Premier League and Leicester City Launch Appeals Over Points Dediction
The Premier League and Leicester City have both initiated appeals against the Foxes' six-point deduction in the Championship, with top-flight authorities pushing for a more severe punishment. Leicester were penalised last month after being found guilty of breaching the EFL's profit and sustainability rules during their promotion-winning 2023/24 season.
Conflicting Appeals from Both Sides
Leicester have appealed the decision, arguing that the six-point deduction is excessive. In contrast, the Premier League is appealing on the grounds that the punishment should be increased, potentially to 12 points along with a significant fine. The Telegraph reports that the league believes a stricter sanction is necessary for the struggling Championship side.
The Midlands club exceeded the permitted losses of £83 million over a three-year period up to last season by nearly £21 million. Despite winning the Championship title under former manager Enzo Maresca, Leicester were relegated straight back to the second tier, missing out on the financial benefits of Premier League status.
Relegation Battle Intensifies
Currently, the deduction leaves Leicester in 22nd place in the Championship, winless in their last seven matches across all competitions and two points from safety. Without the penalty, they would be in 19th position, still hovering above the relegation zone. An additional points deduction could drop them to 23rd, below Oxford United, making survival in the final months of the season a monumental challenge.
In a bid to turn their fortunes around, Leicester appointed Gary Rowett as manager until the end of the season on Wednesday, with the club's chairman acknowledging they are "in a fight for survival" in the Championship. This follows the sacking of Marti Cifuentes in January after only a brief tenure.
Legal History and Current Stance
In previous legal proceedings, the Premier League had advocated for a 12-point deduction or a £20 million fine for Leicester. However, the panel considered the club's improving financial situation as a mitigating factor, leading to the current six-point penalty. Now, the league is appealing to impose the extra points on top of the existing deduction, while Leicester contends they should only face a fine without any sporting sanctions.
The outcome of these appeals could have significant implications for Leicester's season and set a precedent for how financial breaches are handled in English football.
