Sunderland manager Gus Poyet has admitted that the club were lucky to avoid a points deduction after being found guilty of fielding an illegible player.

The Black Cats were hit with a fine for failing to register Ji Dong-won once he had returned from a loan spell in Germany.

Poyet was manager of Brighton & Hove Albion when a similar thing happened against them in 2010. In that case Hartlepool United were docked three points.

"I'm not saying we should have been docked points," Poyet told reporters. "But I would understand if we had.

"It's incredible. The rules should be clear. It should be one rule, for me or against me. I am not a hypocrite."

Poyet has said that the issue will not affect his team's bid for Premier League survival.