West Bromwich Albion have been penalised with a two-point deduction after an independent panel found the club guilty of breaching the English Football League's (EFL) profitability and sustainability (P&S) regulations. The sanction leaves the Baggies just six points clear of the Championship relegation zone with only two matches remaining in the season.
Details of the Breach
The club was charged with exceeding the upper loss threshold of £39 million over a three-year assessment period ending in the 2024/25 season. West Brom denied the allegations, but the Club Financial Review Panel (CFRP) ruled against them. The deduction takes immediate effect, reducing the team's cushion above the bottom three.
Club's Response
West Brom have confirmed they are considering an appeal within 14 days of receiving the full written reasons from the panel, with any appeal to be heard within 28 days. In a statement, the club expressed disagreement with the findings, noting that the alleged breach is less than £2 million—described as the smallest ever across both the Championship and the Premier League.
The club also criticised the EFL's Club Financial Reporting Unit (CFRU) for changing its approach to community development expenditure, which West Brom argue led to the breach. Previously, the CFRU had accepted in-kind donations to The Albion Foundation, but later imposed a retrospective adjustment. The club stated: "Without the CFRU changing its approach... the Club would not have breached the P&S Rules."
Impact on Relegation Battle
With two games left, West Brom now sit six points above the drop zone, but the deduction tightens the margin for error. The club urged focus on the pitch, saying: "For now, we will settle this on the pitch."
