trousers

So it was you that jinxed it then....?

Indeed. I work in the retail payments industry and there's no technical reason why refunds couldn't have happened much quicker than they have. Someone somewhere decided to do it in slow time. (The volume of sales involved isn't a valid excuse)

Who knows? Maybe there's a trail of WhatsApp messages (or such like) which provide evidence...?

I keep pondering on this myself and my conclusion always is: they'll surely have to be consistent and treat him the same as Bielsa, where their actions are/were the same.... BUT.... if Eckert did more 'bad stuff' than Bielsa did (e.g. bullying) then that could/should give the FA reason to treat him differently to Bielsa (assuming Bielsa was never accused of bullying?). The EFL rules are there to sanction clubs, not individuals, ergo the FA shouldn't be taking into account what club rules were broken when dealing with an individual. They should just be concentrating on the severity of the acts carried out, and judge that against their own 'code of conduct' rulebook. Anyway, I'm probably sounding like a scratched record on this now so will quit going on about it!

Didn't receive my refund today... 🤨

That part is the only thing I can see that could differentiate Eckert from Bielsa, in terms of the FA's viewpoint / rulebook. Both Bielsa and Eckert sanctioned the spying, so there's no differential in that respect.

Oops! Edited 😂

I reckon anything below 6 months and they might still consider sticking with him. Does anyone know whether any ban would commence from the start of the season, or from the date of being charged, or from the date of being convicted? That might make a difference....

No wonder they're taking such a f***ing long time in that case...

Hugh B. Ottlers

And any appeal will fall on mutton ears... (One for the cockneys in the audience)

So.... This evening marks a full week (one whole f***ing week) since the appeal ruling, and since the club / owners last uttered anything about the situation... I have just one question m'lud.... WHAT THE ACTUAL F**K IS GOING ON???!!! (Aaaaaand.....Relax)

Depends on whether there was any consent or not, surely? #consentingsheep

That was 21 hours ago.... Alex's view will have changed c.18 times since then...