- Leicester City successfully appealed a potential points deduction tied to PSR rule breaches
- The independent appeal board that presided over the case ruled that the Premier League lacked jurisdiction due to Leicester's relegation
- Nottingham Forest and Everton faced points deductions last season for similar PSR rule breaches
Leicester City, a Premier League club where Super Eagles star, Wilfred Ndidi plays has successfully won an appeal that averted a potential points deduction due to an alleged breach of Premier League Profitability and Sustainability (PSR) regulations.
The club, which has returned to the Premier League after securing promotion from the Championship last season, challenged the decision because the independent commission overseeing the case lacked jurisdiction.
This argument was upheld by an independent appeal board, upholding Leicester's place in the Premier League standings without penalty.
The crux of the matter lies in the timing of Leicester City's accounting period, which concluded on June 30, 2023. By then, the club had been relegated to the EFL Championship.
The Premier League's jurisdiction over Leicester had effectively ended once the club ceased to be a Premier League member, rendering the initial decision moot.
The Premier League expressed its dissatisfaction with the outcome, stating it was "surprised and disappointed" by the appeal board's ruling.
Leicester City, on the other hand, maintained that their actions were in full compliance with the written rules, stating,
"Leicester City welcomes the Appeal Board's comprehensive decision, which supports our consistently stated position that any action against the Club should be pursued in accordance with the applicable rules."
The club was initially charged by the Premier League for breaching spending regulations tied to the three years ending with the 2022-23 season.
However, the timing of their relegation and the subsequent filing of accounts in the Championship played a pivotal role in the appeal's success.
The Appeal Board determined that Leicester could not have exceeded the loss threshold before June 30, and any losses incurred after this date fell outside the Premier League's jurisdiction.
The decision starkly contrasts with cases involving Nottingham Forest and Everton, both of whom faced points deductions last season for similar PSR breaches.
The Premier League, in a statement, mentioned that despite Leicester being a member of the League from the 2019/20 to 2022/23 seasons, "the League cannot take action against the club for exceeding the relevant PSR threshold in respect of the associated accounting periods."
Leicester responded to the Premier League's remarks by emphasising the Appeal Panel's findings, asserting that "the club did not breach the Premier League PSRs for the assessment period ending 30 June 2023," and sought to prevent any misinterpretations that might arise from the League's public statements.
Carabao Cup: 2 African foxes show Tranmere Rovers they are now in a bigger league
Previously, TheRadar reported that Wilfred Ndidi played a key role in Leicester City's dominant 4-0 victory over Tranmere Rovers in the second round of the EFL Cup.
The Nigerian midfielder scored the third goal of the match, capping off a brilliant team move that involved an assist from his African brother Jordan Ayew, who had earlier put Leicester ahead in the first half.
