News/Chat/Talk/Signings - In the end zone - in the six
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland who play in the Premier League. Since its formation in 1879, the club has won six First Division titles—in 1892, 1893, 1895, 1902, 1913, and 1936—and the FA Cup twice, in 1937 and 1973.
Ji Dong-Won: Sunderland fined for fielding ineligible player
Sunderland have been fined by the Premier League after they fielded an ineligible player in four league matches earlier in the season.
Striker Ji Dong-Won, 22, played against Fulham, Southampton, Crystal Palace and Manchester United before Sunderland informed the Premier League they had made an administrative error.
It is understood they were made aware of the error in December and Sunderland settled the fine in early 2014.
The club will not be deducted points.
Sunderland were also fined by the Football League because the player appeared in the Capital One Cup victory over MK Dons in August.
Club secretary Liz Coley has left the club but sources at Sunderland insist it was not as a result of the error.
Sunderland were fined because they failed to gain international clearance for the South Korea international after he returned to the club from a loan spell at German club Augsburg last season.
The Premier League club 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 refused to comment.
Ji joined the Black Cats for an undisclosed fee from South Korean side Chunnam Dragons in June 2011.
He is now back on loan with Augsburg until the end of the season but has agreed a four-year deal to join fellow Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund on a free transfer in July.
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Sunderland flops to be hit with 40 PER CENT pay cut if they are relegated
Sunderland players will be hit with 40 per cent pay-cut if they are relegated this season.
The Black Cats are engulfed in a relegation battle following a disappointing Premier League campaign.
And members of the playing squad will be forced to take the hefty wage slash if they lose their battle to stay in the Premier League.
The stipulation is understood to be standard across playing contracts at the Stadium of Light.
The move is designed to help the club deal with the financial repercussions of relegation into the Championship.
However, given the size of the wage decrease, the club’s most sought after stars are likely to angle for moves away from Sunderland if they go down.
Gus Poyet’s side are four points from safety with a game in hand over 17th place West Bromwich Albion.
But five of their next six fixtures are against sides in the top seven: Tottenham, Everton, Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United.