Wolverhampton Wanderers have been given a £25,000 suspended fine for fielding a below-strength side in their match against Manchester United at Old Trafford in December.

The manager Mick McCarthy made 10 changes from the side that had won 1-0 at Tottenham Hotspur three days earlier. Wolves then responded by recalling nine of the players that had been in action at White Hart Lane for the next league game, at home to fellow strugglers Burnley – and won 2-0. The under-strength Wolves side lost at Old Trafford, on 15 December, 3-0. John Curtis, The Guardian.

I’m no fan of Mick McCarthy or Wolves – I’m a Chelsea fan – but surely a manger is entitled to select any of the players he has on his books – unlike Manchester United who are out to win the premiership – Wolves aim is to avoid relegation – so I can see why he wanted to avoid injury to his best players for the game against Bolton – which he won – who’s next to be fined? What a ridiculous attitude taken by the Premier League. What happens if my team have won the Premiership with three games to go and the only game we’ve left is the Champions league final will we be fined for fielding a weakened team, our last three games are Stoke, Liverpool and Wigan – two of these games could be important for the relegation and the other for qualification in next year’s European competitions.