Leicester appeal against six-point deduction

Leicester City have appealed against a decision to deduct them six points for breaching English Football League financial rules.

The sanction was imposed on the Foxes by an independent commission earlier this month and saw them drop to 20th in the Championship, only outside the relegation zone on goal difference.

Two successive defeats since have led to them dropping into the bottom three, two points from safety.

The Premier League, who initially charged Leicester with breaching profit and sustainability rules (PSR) in the three years up to 2023-24 in May, have also lodged their own appeal against the commission’s decision not to sanction the club for late submission of their annual accounts.

Leicester, who appointed Gary Rowett as their new head coach on Wednesday, have yet to comment on their appeal.

But when the points deduction was announced, the club described it as “disproportionate”.

“While the commission’s findings significantly reduced the unprecedented scale of the sanction originally sought by the Premier League, the recommendation remains disproportionate and does not adequately reflect the mitigating factors presented, the importance of which cannot be overstated given the potential impact on our sporting ambitions this season,” the statement said.

Under PSR, Premier League clubs cannot lose more than £105m over three years but the figure is reduced by £22m for every season a club spends outside the top flight.

Leicester’s accounts for the period ending 30 June, 2024, showed a loss of £19.4m.

In their 2022-23 accounts, Leicester confirmed an £89.7m loss, while in the 12 months up to May 2022, they lost a club-record £92.5m.

Despite being charged by the Premier League, the EFL took on the case following Leicester’s relegation to the second tier.

Although the Premier League had jurisdiction, the Foxes have been sanctioned under EFL PSR rules.

Leicester had argued their case should have been considered over a 36-month period rather than 37 months, caused by a delay in submitting their accounts for 2023-24.

The commission ruled that it should be 36 months meaning the club’s overspend of the EFL’s rules during that period was £20.8m above the £83m limit.