Leicester lose points deduction appeal as Championship relegation looms
Leicester were punished by the EFL for financial breaches
Leicester have been unsuccessful in their attempt to overturn a six-point deduction for breaching financial regulations, leaving the club facing a serious fight to avoid relegation.
The punishment, originally handed down earlier this year by an independent commission, remains in place after the appeal was rejected.
It had already dragged Leicester down the table, and their position has worsened since, with the club now sitting inside the relegation zone in the Championship and running out of games to recover.
In a statement following the outcome, Leicester said: “With the matter now at an end and five games of the season remaining, everyone at the club is fully focused on the matches in front of us and on shaping the outcome of our season through our results on the pitch.
“We know this has been a challenging period, and we thank our supporters for the backing they continue to give the team.
“The responsibility now is to ensure these remaining games are approached with the focus and intent our current situation demands.”
The case relates to breaches of Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) tied to the 2023-24 campaign, when the club were competing outside the top flight. Although initially charged by the Premier League, the matter was handled by the EFL following Leicester’s relegation.
A key part of Leicester’s defence centred on how their financial period should be assessed, arguing it ought to cover 36 months rather than 37 due to a delay in submitting accounts.
However, the commission ruled against them, concluding the club had exceeded the permitted loss threshold by £20.8 million.
The appeal was lodged shortly after the original sanction, but its failure leaves Leicester needing a strong finish to the season to avoid back-to-back relegations. Their recent form has done little to ease concerns, with just one win in their last 12 matches across all competitions.