Why administration should ALWAYS mean relegation, plus why the Europa League is just potty

By Andy Dunn

Published 22:00 18/02/12

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I have immense sympathy for Portsmouth supporters – and did have when they went into administration the first time around.

Having received only a 10-point deduction, they still have a fighting chance of staying in the Championship.

And that is wrong. If a clear message is to be made on the financial mismanagement of clubs, and on the total disregard for a fit and proper persons ownership policy, then punishment for going into administration – and flouting the financial rules under which all clubs have to operate – should be draconian enough to ensure relegation.

Harsh – but fair on those who at least try and play it by the book.

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­When they travel to Crawley today, Stoke will play their 41st game of their season.

The strain appears to be taking its toll. No wonder. Of those 41 games, nine have been in the Europa League. Their last in that competition will almost ­certainly come in Valencia on Thursday.

Valencia were only squeezed out of the Champions League by Chelsea and Bayer Leverkusen. That they parachuted into the Europa League, and will put an end to Stoke’s tireless and admirable progression, is just another reminder of how flawed that competition is.

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Yaya Toure was remarkably sanguine about the allegations of racist abuse in Porto’s Estadio do Dragao on Thursday night.

Yaya said: “Maybe in foreign countries, they don’t expect black players. I think in future it will be OK, they will change their minds.”

Leaving aside the fact that Portugal has long been a naturalised home for legions of African footballers, the only way racist spectators will ‘change their minds’ is if UEFA – and FIFA – start expelling their clubs from competition if supporters are found guilty of the sort of offences Manchester City are alleging. And not just slapping them on the wrist with paltry fines.

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