Middlesbrough are to sue the English Football League for failing to stick to their financial rules over Derby County’s sale of Pride Park.
The punishment would have been a points deduction to the Rams for breaching ‘Financial Fair Play’ regulations and that would have given Boro a playoff spot after they missed out by one point in the Championship table.
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Derby were looking at an operating loss of £30.9million for 2017/18, but instead reversed it to £14.6million pre-tax profit, as a result of selling the stadium to owner Mel Morris for a reported figure of £80m and then leasing Pride Park back.
They avoided sanction under EFL profit and sustainability rules which prevent clubs from making losses of more than £13million a year over a 36-month period.
Middlesbrough didn’t comment on Friday’s report which claimed they are to sue the league over the matter, but according to PA, sources on Teesside confirmed legal advice has been taken.
An EFL spokesman said: “We do not comment on the financial circumstances of specific clubs.”
Mel Morris denies that the club have committed any offence, telling talkSPORT: “We’ve done nothing wrong. We’re very comfortable with what we’ve done. The valuation, in our opinion, was fair and reasonable.
“We didn’t use a loophole. Let’s be very clear on this, there is no loophole here. The rules are extremely specific on this, that the sale of a fixed asset is allowable. It’s a single sentence. It is allowable.”
"I don't know what's corrupt about it."
"We did not use a loophole."
"The sale of a fixed asset is allowable."@DCFCOfficial owner Mel Morris defends himself over Derby's stadium sale. pic.twitter.com/mQRGaVzAzv
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) September 13, 2019
Gibson has often spoke of clubs he feel have spent beyond their means without being handed any sanctions, especially considering Birmingham were giving a 9 point deduction last season for recording a loss of almost £10million in excess of the limit.
Jonathan Woodgate said in June when he was unveiled: “If the rule is not going to be followed, don’t have it, and if the rule is there…
“If we have a centre-half who picks the ball up in the penalty area, I don’t expect the referee to ignore it. If a player deceives the referee, I don’t expect that to be ignored, and I don’t expect the EFL and other clubs to ignore Financial Fair Play.
“It’s there, it’s a rule, it’s an important rule, it needs to be followed and if it’s not followed, sanctions must be taken against those clubs that cheat.”
Asked what the solution was, Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson replied: “That lies with the EFL. We’re just Middlesbrough, we’re a minnow in this. The EFL and the other clubs have got to act against it.”
Football fans found out on the story with many taking aim and mocking Boro and Steve Gibson for complaining – see what they had to say on the next page.
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