- Foxes were referred to an independent commission in March over suspected violations
- Everton were given two separate deductions worth eight points last season
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Leicester are unlikely to suffer a points deduction this season after exploiting a loophole that could see the Premier League rewrite its own rules.
In March this year, the Foxes were charged by the League for breaching spending rules over the three-year period ending in June 2023, which could have resulted in them dropping points at some point during the current season.
However, the club successfully argued that the Premier League had no jurisdiction to punish the club as they were no longer in the top division on the date they were charged.
If Leicester had managed to avoid relegation in the 2022-23 season, they would have been indicted alongside Everton and Nottingham Forest last season. It remains to be seen what rival clubs will make of this oddity if they are relegated in May and Leicester survive.
Leicester were represented by renowned sports lawyer Nick De Marco, who was inundated with messages on social media from delighted Leicester fans, with one speculating that he would never have to buy a pint in the city again.
Leicester City have announced they have avoided a Premier League points deduction after the recently promoted club appealed against a Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) decision
The team, who are fighting for survival this season, were facing a sanction
The Foxes lost to Villa on Saturday to remain on one point after three games
The Premier League was furious with the independent panel’s decision. In a statement it said: ‘The Premier League is surprised and disappointed by the decision of the independent Appeal Board to uphold an appeal by Leicester City FC concerning the League’s jurisdiction over the club’s alleged breach of its Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSRs) when the club was a member of the Premier League.
‘In quashing the findings of the original Committee, the Premier League considers that the Appeals Committee’s decision fails to take into account the purpose of the Rules, all relevant parts of the PSRs and the need for effective enforcement of alleged breaches to ensure fairness between all clubs.
‘If the Appeals Committee is correct, its decision has created a situation where any club that exceeds the PSR threshold can avoid liability in these specific circumstances.
‘This is clearly not the intention of the rules.
‘It is vital that the Premier League can enforce its rules consistently to uphold the principle of fairness.
‘The League will now consider what further action it can take to ensure that this is the case.’
Leicester’s next accounts, relating to their season in the Championship, are due early next year.
Even if they were in breach at that point, it would be extremely difficult for them to press charges and receive a points penalty before the end of the season given the timescales involved.
A statement from Leicester said: “In order to avoid any misunderstanding which may arise in light of the statement issued by the Premier League in response to the appeal decision, Leicester City would like to emphasise the finding of the Appeal Panel that, when considering the actual wording used in the Premier League rules (in accordance with established principles of English law), the club is not in breach of the Premier League PSRs for the review period ending on 30 June 2023.
It looked like Steve Cooper’s team were facing the same fate as Everton, who twice lost points due to financial overspending.
‘In its ruling, the Appeals Board (which consisted of a panel of three experienced, senior lawyers, two of whom are former judges at the Court of Appeal) identified flaws in the drafting of the Premier League’s rules.
‘In challenging the Premier League’s attempts to prosecute Leicester City, the club has simply attempted to ensure (in the interests of consistency and certainty for all clubs) that the rules are applied in the manner in which they were actually written.’