Leicester avoid immediate points deduction and issue statement in response to EFL

Leicester City have issued a statement after the EFL confirmed they cannot issue a points deduction this season.

The Foxes were charged by the Premier League for breaching their profit and sustainability rules and placed under a transfer embargo.

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As a result, they could suffer a points deduction next season should they secure promotion back to the top-flight.

Leicester announced they would take legal action against the Premier League and the EFL after being placed under a transfer embargo.

The latter released a statement on Friday and revealed that they do not have the power to incur a points deduction now if told to do so by a Premier League Disciplinary Commission. 

As a result, the Foxes can breathe easy for the time being in the knowledge that any punishment won’t come until next term.

Leicester, who applied for an interim injunction to prevent a sanction this season, responded: “LCFC notes the publication today of the decision of the League Arbitration Panel [LAP].

“As the LAP decision records, the EFL wrote to the Premier League on 20 March 2024 [the day before the PL brought its PSR complaint against LCFC], stating that the EFL would ensure that any sanction imposed by a Premier League Disciplinary Commission against LCFC would take effect while LCFC was in the Championship, whilst also noting that any points deduction sought by the Premier League would need to be applied before 4 May 2024.

“However, after the Club challenged the EFL’s intention to act outside of its rules, the EFL subsequently unconditionally accepted that it does not in fact have any power, from any source, to impose a points deduction in the EFL which has been ordered by a Premier League Disciplinary Commission in relation to PSR.

“LCFC continues to try and co-operate constructively with both the Premier League and the EFL to reach a lawful resolution of any issues relating to PSR, in accordance with our consistent commitment that any charges against the Club should be properly and proportionately determined, in accordance with the applicable rules, by the right bodies, and at the right time.”

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Should Leicester be punished with a points deduction, this now looks set to come next season amid their ongoing battle with the EFL.

They recently announced financial losses of £89.7million for the 13-month period leading to June 2023 amid the uncertainty at the club.

Enzo Maresca’s side were quickly one of the favourites to challenge for the Championship title amid their relegation from the Premier League last season.

At one stage, it looked as though Leicester were going to cruise towards the crown but three consecutive losses earlier in the year soon saw their lead at the top narrow.

Defeat to Millwall on Tuesday night means they sit level on points with Ipswich Town and just one ahead of Leeds United.

They do have a game in hand though and face struggling Plymouth Argyle on Friday night, live on talkSPORT 2.