INTEGRITY OF THE FA PREMIERSHIP

That this House is concerned that the lenient treatment of West Ham United by the Premier League, failing to deduct points for admitted breaches of rules, calls into question the integrity of the 2007 competition; believes that all 20 clubs are supposed to play by the same rules, that playing ineligible players even unwittingly has in the past led on a number of occasions to points deductions and expulsion from cup competitions, that by failing to deduct points on this occasion the Football Association Premier League has signalled that advantage can be gained by cheating and that changes of ownership and delay in bringing the matter to a hearing are not good reasons for leniency; and further believes that all the relevant football authorities should now resolve to clarify the rules to ensure that effective sanctions, including points deductions, are made in all cases of deliberate attempts to seek to gain advantage on the pitch by breaches of competition rules, recognising a responsibility to the fans and players of innocent clubs as well as to those found guilty.