Arsenal promoted despite finishing fifth in the second division

The expansion of English football's top flight from 20 to 22 teams in 1919 - the first season since 1914-15 - caused huge controversy. The existing method for expanding divisions had been to send up the top two sides from the second division, in this case Derby and Preston, while retaining the bottom two relegated clubs.

The league's top brass decided to hold a ballot to choose the clubs which would feature in the top division, with the First Division's bottom two sides Chelsea (19th) and Tottenham (20th) expected to be voted back into the league, as in previous years. Yet the chairman of Liverpool, amid accusations of skulduggery, match fixing pay-offs and bribery, made an impassioned speech to call for the promotion of Arsenal despite the fact that they'd only finished fifth in the previous second-division season.

Amazingly, his advice was heeded and Arsenal were voted into the top flight at the expense of - you've guessed it - Tottenham. Fans of both Spurs and Barnsley (who'd finished third in the Second Division) were understandably furious.

The Gunners have been in the top flight ever since. Cheated to get to where they are today, Law of Kama dealing with Ass-anal now.


http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/the-rundown/article/9618/

The arsenal should be relegated one division to make up for when they cheated in the past