Birmingham City respond to EFL charges handed to them this week, with the club facing a potential points deduction for breaching rules.
After allegedly violating regulations, the Championship side could face a suspension of points with an investigation into a failed attempt to takeover.
This had to to a charge for Birmingham and other individuals with multiple counts for misconduct. A potential buyer is accused of financing the club without approval from the EFL.
Birmingham could face suspended points deduction after EFL charges | story by @benfisherjhttps://t.co/1SDqSmrLPl
— Guardian sport (@guardian_sport) February 20, 2023
Birmingham has faced many off-field issues since Birmingham Sports Holdings, a Hong Kong-based business, took over the club in 2016. Due to asbestos damage, two stands at St Andrew’s stadium are now partially closed.
On Monday, Birmingham was punished by the EFL, and Birmingham could be punished in a similar manner to Rochdale (who were given a six-point deduction, suspended for two years) if found guilty of violating the EFL regulations. Dale failed to comply with the league’s owners’ and directors’ test.
Paul Richardson and Maxi Lopez tried to buy the club in December but their bid was rejected. The EFL accuses them of being involved with the running of the club, despite not passing their owners’ tests.
The EFL has not named the people charged. This case will be referred to an independent disciplinary committee for review. You can see the EFL statement by clicking HERE.
CLUB STATEMENT:
“Birmingham City acknowledges the decision of the EFL and its charges of the Club with alleged breaches of EFL Regulations following the conclusion of its investigation into the proposed acquisition of Control.
The multiple matters will now be referred to an independent Disciplinary Commission.
No further comment will be made.
– STATEMENT ENDS –
Birmingham was docked nine points in 2019 for violating the EFL’s spending regulations. They were also found guilty of not adhering to a business plan the next year. In the midst of confusion, the EFL is still investigating the “ultimate beneficiary ownership” of the club.
Birmingham fans protested against their owners, and since 2012, they have never finished in the top 10 of Championship. They currently sit 18th with 38 points from 32 games played. They are also seven points clear of the drop zone, with 14 games left this season.
Meanwhile, former prospective Birmingham City owner Paul Richardson has his say on the EFL charging Blues and “individuals” with alleged breaches of the League’s rules.
He wrote on Instagram with a tag to Maxi Lopez: “In response to the EFL statement issued today, we will defend any alleged breaches of the regulations vigorously. No further comment will be made.”
In November Richardson told talkSPORT: “There is a procedure in place that we’ve adhered to, which is quite strict. As far as we’re aware, we haven’t made any breaches, either us or the seller.”
Twitter users reacted as Birmingham respond to EFL charges with te club facing points deduction for breaching rules…
@CharlieJamesAnt: can’t wait for everyone to plan a protest then when hogan makes it 1-0 vs luton nothing happens
@nattiecw: Aa a Coventry fan I really feel for you lot. We have been there and ended up in League 2 with our disgraceful owners. Your club bailed us out when we needed it so I have a lot of respect for the Blues. Hope this gets sorted and you guys can bounce back.
@stellytalks: Thank you to @EFL for their vigilance throughout, what a wonderful organisation you are 👍🏽 Time to go BSHL! #BSHLOUT
@EClarky97: So you’ve said something without actually saying anything? Classic Blues that. 👍🏻
@RoughleySpeakin: Can’t we just sort this out with the EFL, and have a little meeting on the Kop car park? Then a little wander around the pitch with our top boys, to iron out the finer detail?
@hoodiefan_eth: How can the #efl give that statement when the @EFL haven’t exactly been running the football league in a fit and proper manner themselves ??
@Carlos_1982: I don’t take any pleasure as a Villa fan over this, horrible to see any club in a mess, I would much rather have blues in the Premier League with us, the derby days are very much missed
@Carter78_UK: As a Coventry fan I wholeheartedly feel for the fans. This is not a situation any fan should have to face. You’ll survive this blues we did coming back from league 2.
@skb777: Meanwhile – in the Premier League a ‘for show’ investigation concludes in to Man City’s corruption, other clubs mercilessly flash cash around, the @EFL fosters inequality across the league by helping promoted clubs to gain an unfair advantage and Neil Warnock is back in the game
@AVFCMarkM: Time to crack the dildos out again.
@tackyherbert: So they finally realised the club is being run by a shadow owner ? Fan groups have been alerting them to that for years. So who they gonna punish ? The fans 🤣
@RyanBCFC1: If we go down we will be there for years, this clubs going to have to go through so much before good change comes, no surprise things keep getting worse for us fans, half a stadium and no money in a division below, can’t see the light in this one.
@SuprBrwniLatte: The F.A needs to clamp down on people buying teams for money making purposes. If a buyers does not have any desire to actually invest and improve a team and help them grow then don’t let them buy and destroy clubs became they want to just make money & not actually build the club
@Bradley_AJ: When is it gonna end
@ThatCharlieDon: How can the efl let people invest money into the club and then punish us for it? Surely it’s there fault for letting it all happen in the first place
@dean_kavanagh: Slow clap to everyone wetting their pants about Lopez / Robinson deal last year, chancers. Also, well done #BSHL for not understanding anything about EFL regulations. Also, well done to the @EFL for their inability to properly scrutinise #BSHL when it mattered. All arseholes.
@Benjfordays: Fighting talk from blues there not taking it lying down fist 👊🏻
@brod_dcfc: Really awful to see this happen to clubs. Still hilarious all the same, enjoy liquidation!
@MarfsBack: Class this from the EFL. Don’t do their job when our current owners took control, don’t step in when the current owners look to sell the club. Instead charge us cus the owners didn’t do it properly while they wait to charge us for them not doing their job in the first place
@Nev_77_:
In 6.5 years…
A transfer embargo
2 points deductions
Numerous fines
8 managers sacked (11 managers have been in charge)
5 relegation battles (6 with this season)
Anyone want to add anything?
Can any club top us?
#bcfc #BSHLOUT
@TheBlueFallows: This happened to Rochdale last season. They had a six point deduction which was suspended for two years and had four people banned as ‘relevant persons’. Three for 24 months and one for 18 months, I think. Information by Dan Ivery.
@blues_breakdown: There’ll be an inevitable blame game but Lopez & Richardson were egotistical & plastered themselves across social media. BSHL were more than willing to take the money offered up with little regard to consequences & the EFL are, well, the EFL. Fans suffer as usual #bcfc
Supporting this football club pic.twitter.com/3ChwDDuzT8
— Max (@MRMAXBRADLEY_) February 20, 2023
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