Garnering inside information on Cardiff City's team line-up was not a requirement for beating Ole Gunnar Solksjaer's team last season. Numerous sides managed to defeat Cardiff despite being entirely oblivious beforehand as to the personnel and the type of formation they would employ.
But, according to the Premier League, who have upheld a complaint from the Welsh side, Crystal Palace were taking no chances.
Cardiff alleged that Palace's Director of Football, Iain Moody (not coincidentally, he was Cardiff City's ex-director of recruitment) had been pumping Cardiff employees for information.
Perhaps most controversially of all, Moody revealed Cardiff midfielder Aron Gunnarsson as his source for the information.
The incriminating text read:
Straight from Gunnarsson, their line-up is 4-4-2: Marshall, KTC, Caulker, Turner, Taylor, Daehli, Medel, Mutch, Zaha, Campbell, Jones
However, Moody accidentally sent this text to Bolton manager, and Crystal Palace stalwart, Dougie Freedman. From there, it was forwarded onto Solksjaer.
Crystal Palace won the match 3-0. Palace, Moody, and Gunnarsson all deny the allegations.
Palace have been fined by the Premier League, though the size of the fine has not been disclosed. The rule breached is termed 'the utmost good faith' rule.
[Irish Examiner]
