The EFL may be forced to reschedule Leicester City's Championship clash with Sheffield Wednesday if the Owls fail to fulfil the fixture, with a forfeit also possible. The match at King Power Stadium is scheduled for next weekend, but Wednesday's players are refusing to play after being told their July wages will not be paid on time—the fourth such instance in five months.
The senior squad has been reduced to 15 professionals, and a pre-season friendly against Burnley was cancelled on Saturday due to the dispute. There are fears that more players could terminate their contracts, leaving the club unable to field a team against Leicester.
According to EFL rules, if Wednesday fail to fulfil the fixture and are found guilty of misconduct, they would be required to compensate Leicester for match preparation costs. The EFL board would assess the situation and make a decision, though no definitive guidelines exist.
A similar scenario occurred in 2019 when Bolton Wanderers players boycotted a match against Brentford over unpaid wages. That fixture was initially postponed, then cancelled after Bolton's Safety Advisory Group deemed staffing levels inadequate. Brentford were awarded a 1-0 victory and three points, as the match could not be played after the season's conclusion.
