Leicester City’s hopes of stabilising their Championship campaign have taken a major hit after the EFL confirmed a six-point deduction for breaches of Profit and Sustainability (P&S) rules relating to the 2023/24 season.
The sanction was applied with immediate effect, with the EFL stating that its board had met to ratify the punishment following the findings of an independent commission.
“The EFL Board has considered the decision and determined that the sanction should be applied to the Championship table with immediate effect,” the league said in an official statement revealed by Sky Sports.
The deduction comes at a turbulent time for the Foxes, who were relegated from the Premier League last season and are currently without a permanent manager.
Marti Cifuentes was dismissed in January after just six months in charge, leaving Leicester hovering uncomfortably in mid-table and now firmly looking over their shoulders.
The independent commission concluded that Leicester exceeded the permitted P&S threshold by £20.8 million across the three-year monitoring period ending in the 2023/24 campaign. The club was also found guilty of breaching Premier League regulations by failing to submit its annual accounts when requested.
Although the commission was originally appointed under Premier League rules last May, jurisdiction shifted following an arbitration ruling which allowed the investigation to continue after Leicester’s promotion to the top flight in 2024.
Leicester have since acknowledged the ruling but made it clear they are unhappy with the outcome. In a club statement, the Foxes described the punishment as excessive and confirmed they are considering their next move.
“It is with disappointment that Leicester City acknowledges the independent commission’s decision,” the statement read. “The points sanction 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.”
That response leaves the door open for a possible appeal, although the deduction remains in force for now.
