The Premier League has been told it would be in a “weak” position to launch an appeal against Leicester City.
The Foxes have won their battle with the Premier League and will not face a points deduction over a breach of Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) for the three years up to 2023.
City’s initial complaint on those grounds was dismissed by an independent commission in July. But the club appealed that decision, and an independent appeal board has now reversed the commission’s judgement.
Had City stayed up, their stance would have been invalid. City argued the Premier League’s rulebook did not allow for charges against an EFL side, and that therefore, the governing body acted outside of their own jurisdiction. It’s not a denial that they breached the financial threshold, as in their own 22-23 financial accounts, published in the spring, City admitted they “anticipated they may be found not in compliance” with PSR.
The decision means that City will not face a points deduction for the 22-23 finances. Had they been found in breach, they faced losing at least six points, which would have been a damaging blow to their bid to stay up this term.
In response, the Premier League have said they are “surprised” and “disappointed” by the appeal board’s judgement. They believe the appeal board’s decision “fails to take into account the purpose of the rules”.
Speaking on Sky Sports, football finance expert Kieran Maguire said: “The Premier League are in a very weak position if they do decide to go ahead with an appeal.
“The only reason why that might be the case is if there’s an awful lot of pressure put on the Premier League by other clubs, especially those who are perhaps in the bottom half of the division or expected to finish in the bottom half of the Premier League this season.”
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