Coventry hit with suspended five-point deduction after three games were shelved over unsafe pitch
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Coventry City struck with a five-point suspended deduction after three games were postponed due to an unsafe ground, with the points to be deducted if they are responsible for more games being abandoned before the end of the 2023-24 season
- Coventry received a suspended five-point deduction for postponed games
- The clashes with Rotherham, Wigan and Huddersfield were parked by the pitch
- Points will be deducted if more games are dropped before the end of the next season.
Coventry have agreed to a suspended five-point deduction until the end of next season as punishment for the club’s three postponed home games in August.
Championship fixtures against Rotherham, Wigan and Huddersfield were unable to proceed as the pitch at the Coventry Building Society Arena was not in a safe condition.
Coventry will immediately have points deducted if they are held responsible for any further missed matches in the 2022-2023 season or 2023-2024 campaign.
Three Coventry home games postponed due to unsafe pitch conditions
The Sky Blues will also pay compensation to rival clubs affected by the postponements as part of the disciplinary sanctions, in addition to covering English Football League costs of £6,000.
Coventry chief executive Dave Boddy has blamed the indebted Wasps rugby union club, which also uses the stadium and is in the process of being taken over after going into administration, for poor ground conditions.
Our fans will know that we were left with a field at the Arena that was unsafe, dangerous and unplayable for our first games of the season, following broken promises of a new field by Wasps and extensive use at the Games of Commonwealth rugby sevens. ‘, he said in a statement on the club’s website.
Coventry have been warned that points will be deducted if they are responsible for further matches being postponed.
Coventry will compensate clubs affected by its postponements this season
“The debacle they caused, and the cash flow problems, reputational damage and inconvenience they created for the football club, as well as affecting our sporting performance and our supporters, should have been an indication to all of us. of the difficult financial situation they were facing.
“Despite the nature of our tenure at the Arena and the lack of control of pitch maintenance at the Arena, it remains our responsibility as an EFL club to comply with the competition regulations.”
“We have accepted the EFL’s decision and the sanctions imposed on us in order to minimize the sanctions that would be imposed on us, the deduction of points being suspended.”