Leicester City Football Club have lost its appeal against a six-point deduction imposed for breaching English Football League (EFL) financial rules. The sanction, which was initially levied in February by an independent commission, saw the Foxes drop from 17th to 20th place. Since then, they have further descended into the Championship relegation zone and are currently one point away from safety with only five games remaining.
The Premier League initially charged Leicester City in May 2025 for breaching profit and sustainability rules (PSR) during the 2023-24 season when they were part of the Championship. Under PSR, Premier League clubs cannot lose more than £105m over three years. However, this figure is reduced by £22m for every season a club spends outside the top flight.
Leicester City released statement:
"With the matter now at an end and five games of the season remaining, everyone at the club is fully focused on the matches in front of us and on shaping the outcome of our season through our results on the pitch,"
"We know this has been a challenging period, and we thank our supporters for the backing they continue to give the team. The responsibility now is to ensure these remaining games are approached with the focus and intent our current situation demands."
Despite being charged by the Premier League, it was EFL that took on their case following their relegation last year. They were found guilty of breaking PSR rules within EFL's jurisdiction.
Disproportionate punishment?
Leicester expressed disappointment when it was announced they would be docked six points on February 5th and described this punishment as "disproportionate". The club argued that their case should have been considered over a 36-month period rather than extending to 37 months due to a delay in submitting their accounts for the contentious season.
However, the commission ruled that it should indeed be based on a span of 36 months. This meant that Leicester's overspend according to EFL's regulations during this period amounted to £20.8m above the permissible limit of £83m. The Foxes appealed against this decision two weeks later - interestingly less than twenty-four hours after appointing Gary Rowett as their new interim head coach until the season's end. Unfortunately, their appeal was unsuccessful.
Since the six-point deduction, Leicester's form has further deteriorated. They now face a daunting task to avoid a second successive relegation after managing only one win in their last twelve games across all competitions. The club and its fans are undoubtedly hoping for a turnaround in fortunes as they approach the final stretch of what has been a challenging season.
