Leicester City have won their legal battle over a Premier League decision that could have resulted in a points deduction for breaching profitability and sustainability rules (PSR).
Following Leicester’s appeal, an independent panel ruled it had no jurisdiction to proceed with the case and that that part of the PSR was “poorly drafted”.
“Leicester City welcomes the comprehensive decision of the appeal committee which underpins our consistent position that any action against the club must be taken in accordance with the rules,” Fox said in a statement.
BREAKING: Leicester win appeal over PSR breach 🚨 pic.twitter.com/bdhdoZo5co
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) September 3, 2024
Leicester appeal: Premier League responds
The ruling was based on the fact that Leicester were in the Championship in March at the time of the charges and that the club’s accounting period covered a three-year period following their relegation to the second tier.
Everton and Nottingham Forest were both penalised for PSR last season, and the league is considering appealing.
“If the appeals committee is right, that decision will create a situation where any club that exceeds the PSR threshold will be able to avoid liability in these specific circumstances,” it said.
“This is clearly not the intention of the rules. It is vital that the Premier League can enforce the rules consistently to uphold the principle of fairness.”
Premier League PSR
The rules state that clubs can lose up to £105 million over three seasons.
Leicester are hoping to avoid a breach in the three-year accounting period ending in June 2024, thanks to Chelsea’s £40m payment for midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and manager Enzo Maresca.
The Italian coach led Leicester to promotion in the 2023-24 season, winning the Championship after finishing top of the league in all but 10 of their games.
Steve Cooper succeeded Maresca at Manchester City after Pep Guardiola’s former assistant manager left for Stamford Bridge.
The 2015-16 Premier League champions have taken one point from three games and will next face Crystal Palace, just below them, on September 14 (3pm BST).
