SUNDERLAND have released a formal statement clarifying the situation over Ji Dong-won's appearance in five matches this season despite being ineligible to play.

The club raised the matter at a Premier League shareholders' meeting earlier today, and none of their top-flight rivals identified any outstanding issues.

Therefore, Sunderland officials regard the matter as closed and do not expect any further contact from the Premier League.

The Black Cats insist they have not accepted any blame for Ji's international registration not having been completed when he appeared in four Premier League games and a Capital One Cup match, but accept that a "technical fault" occurred.

The Sunderland statement said: "The issue of Ji Dong-won was explained in detail at today’s Premier League shareholders' meeting and no issues were raised by any club.

"Sunderland AFC confirmed that they had complied with all procedures and the Premier League stated that the player was duly registered on the extranet system and in all other Premier League mechanisms.

"The club has never accepted any wrongdoing, but did acknowledge that a technical fault occurred and as such were fined by the Premier League accordingly in December.

"The matter is now closed."