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Leicester City has been deducted six points from their Championship standings after being found guilty of breaching the English Football League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules for the 2023-2024 season. An independent commission recommended the sanction, which was subsequently approved by the English Football League board. The Leicester City points deduction was announced following a lengthy investigation into the club’s financial conduct during their time in the top flight.
The commission was established under Premier League rules in May after an arbitration panel ruled that alleged violations under EFL regulations could be transferred to the Premier League following Leicester’s promotion to the top division in 2024. The penalty applies to the 2023-2024 accounting period, when the club was still competing in the Premier League before their relegation.
Leicester City Financial Breach Details
According to the independent commission’s findings, Leicester City exceeded the minimum Profitability and Sustainability threshold by £20.8 million during the three-year assessment period ending in the 2023-2024 season. The commission determined that this breach warranted a points deduction to maintain competitive integrity within English football’s financial framework.
Additionally, the panel found that Leicester City violated Premier League regulations by failing to submit their annual accounts to the league when requested. This secondary infraction compounded the severity of the club’s situation and contributed to the final sanction imposed by league authorities.
Club Response and Future Actions
Leicester City issued a statement acknowledging the independent commission’s decision with regret, confirming the club would use available time to consider next steps. The club expressed dissatisfaction with the severity of the Leicester City points deduction, arguing that the penalty remains disproportionate and fails to adequately consider mitigating circumstances presented during the hearing.
In their statement, the club emphasized that the importance of these mitigating factors cannot be overstated given the potential impact on their sporting ambitions this season. However, the club stopped short of confirming whether they would appeal the decision through available legal channels.
Previous Appeals and Jurisdiction Issues
This is not Leicester City’s first encounter with Profitability and Sustainability Rules violations. The club successfully avoided a points deduction related to alleged breaches for the 2022-2023 Premier League season after an appeal was accepted in September 2024.
In that case, the appeals commission concluded that the independent panel appointed under Premier League rules lacked jurisdiction to consider the matter. The panel ruled that the accounting period for the 2022-2023 season ended one month and two days after the club’s relegation from the Premier League, placing it outside the Premier League’s authority.
Championship Standings Impact
The six-point penalty has significantly affected Leicester City’s position in the Championship table. The East Midlands club dropped from seventeenth place to twentieth place following the Leicester City points deduction, leaving them with 32 points for the season.
Meanwhile, this sanction places Leicester perilously close to the relegation zone in England’s second tier. The financial fair play breach has transformed what was already a challenging campaign into a potential fight against a second consecutive relegation for the former Premier League champions.
Leicester City officials have not confirmed whether they will pursue an appeal against the decision, though the club’s statement suggests they are reviewing all available options. The club faces a deadline to submit any formal challenge, though authorities have not confirmed the specific timeframe for such action.
