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If City lawyers are involved I wouldn't expect a decision until well into the next decade.

Ok then, does the FA letting Chelsea off the hook after years of improper wrangling behind the scenes bring the game into disrepute? I'd suggest it does but who could bring charges against the FA? The only reason we're having these pointless exchanges is because the FA are dragging their feet after a jolly to the world cup. It'll be good to return to the football.

That's an EFL rule. No other league has it by the way. I'm perfectly aware that Eckert has admitted improper behaviour and he'll no doubt get a kicking from the FA blazers for it. I'm referring to the catch-all FA Rule 3.1 and my point is a general one relating to it. What is or is not "improper" can be open to interpretation. It's a fairly simply point.

When a rules based system of governance tells participants that they mustn't do something "improper" without defining what it means or what sanctions might apply for being improper then I'd suggest that those making up the rules probably did so after a long boozy lunch.

If the FA follow the Chelsea route then it'd be a suspended sanction in a few years time. But then it isn't Chelsea or City so the FA blazers will probably want to kick one of the smaller fry.

Oh I give up.

Yes, randomly. Depending on whether the FA blazers have had a good lunch.

I'm not talking about "the rules" really. The phrase "sporting advantage" is bandied around as if nobody ever seeks to use it. There are rules about financial fair play for instance but they get applied randomly depending on who can afford the best lawyers which is itself seeking to gain a sporting advantage. Tapping up and paying the best players huge salaries is gaining a sporting advantage but let's worry instead about someone lurking behind a tree watching a team who are practising in public view. The whole thing's got out of hand in my opinion. Just look at bleedin' FIFA for instance. It's laughable.

Still can't get my head around the idea that seeking to gain a sporting advantage is somehow classed sinful. Isn't that part of what professional sport is about?

Banned from Teesside then? I'd accept that. All this mindless speculation does is to reinforce the fact that nobody knows where the so-called crime is considered to be in a range from "nothing to see here" to "deserving of public sacrifice". It's the EFL and the FA that are starting to look ridiculous. Wish they'd just damn well get on with it.

Dobbin's a cool dude. Nice finish.

Dodgy looking offside flag. 1-1 at HT.

Saints first shot I think. 1-1. Leo.

Shocking from THB. Another shot from Munster and it's 1-0 to them. Saints have hardly approached the opposition penalty area.

If you can call it that.