Sunderland have been fined by the Premier League after fielding Ji Dong-won in four league matches at a time when their South Korea striker had not received international clearance.
Although he had first joined Sunderland in 2011, Ji spent much of last season in Germany on loan at Augsburg. When he returned an apparent administrative error led to him playing, mostly as a substitute, in games against Fulham, Southampton, Crystal Palace and Manchester United before the mistake was spotted.
Realising they lacked a necessary piece of paperwork, Sunderland immediately alerted the Premier League and paid a fine that all parties agreed to keep discreet in December.
It is understood Sunderland failed to gain international clearance for the South Korea international after he returned to the club from a loan spell at Augsburg last season.
They did not realise they needed to seek international clearance for a second time when he returned to England. He should not have been involved in any matches before the club received written confirmation from the German Football Association. The Premier League has yet to comment.
The matter is now considered closed by Sunderland and they understand there is no possibility of a points deduction. Also in December, Liz Coley left her post as club secretary but sources at the Stadium of Light are adamant she was not sacked and departed of her own volition. Ji, meanwhile, returned to Augsburg on loan for the remainder of this season in January. A player who will be out of contract in the summer has subsequently announced he will be joining Borussia Dortmund after the World Cup.
Sunderland are embroiled in a relegation battle, and their rivals may have difficulty in querying whether the competition’s integrity has been damaged and their survival hopes reduced as the Wearside team collected only one point – at Southampton – during the games in which Ji was involved. Indeed, after he missed a simple scoring chance at Crystal Palace, Paolo Di Canio, Sunderland’s then manager, accused him of cowardice.
However, under the FA’s rules, Sunderland could have been docked that one point. “Any club found to have played an ineligible player in a match shall have any points gained from that match deducted from its record and have levied upon it a fine,” the FA rules state.
“The company may vary this decision in respect of the points gained only in circumstances where the ineligibility is due to the failure to obtain an International Transfer Certificate or where the ineligibility is related to the player’s status only.
“The board may also order that such match be replayed on such terms as are decided by the board which may also levy penalty points against the club in default.”
Ji also played against MK Dons in the Capital One Cup. MK Dons are believed to have wanted Sunderland – who reached the final, losing to Manchester City – thrown out of the competition once the error came to light. But the South Korean had minimal impact against the League One club before his withdrawal in the 49th minute, with Sunderland losing 1-0. In the end Di Canio’s then team won 4-2.
Ji initially joined Sunderland from Chunnam Dragons for £2 million in June 2011 during Steve Bruce’s spell in charge, but started only six senior games for the club, although he did score a memorable winner against Manchester City on New Year’s Day 2012.
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