Nottingham Forest confirm in a statement that they have put in an appeal against their points deduction from the Premier League.
The club has submitted an appeal to the Chair of the Judicial Panel today, who will proceed to appoint an Appeal Board to review the case.
Forest has been accused of overspending, with 42 players joining the City Ground for a total exceeding £250 million since their return to the Premier League.
On the 15th of January, they were directed to an independent Commission after admitting to breaching the relevant PSR threshold.
While Premier League clubs are permitted to incur losses of up to £105m over three years, Forest’s allowable losses were capped at £61m due to spending two years in the Championship during that period.
As a result of the deduction of four points, the club has slipped into the relegation zone in the Premier League, sitting 18th, just one point behind 17th place Luton Town.
The timing and outcome of Forest’s appeal are still uncertain. However, what is certain is that they have control over their own destiny in terms of staying in the Premier League.
With five more home games left this season, Forest will aim to make the City Ground a formidable place for their opponents.
Additionally, they will face tough challenges against Everton, Sheffield United, and Burnley, who are in close proximity to them in the league standings.
An appeal is not without risks as there is the possibility of the four-point sanction being increased, as Premier League rules state an appeal board may “except in the case of a fixed penalty, vary any penalty imposed or order made at first instance”.
But Nottingham Forest believe it is very unlikely to get additional sanction because of the appeal, so it’s considered a free hit, with the club and their lawyers confident they have a strong case.
Forest want the process concluded as soon as possible so that it’s clarity for the team, and other Premier League clubs. The appeal hearing will be within 3 weeks, and by the 12th of April at the latest.
Club statement.
— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) March 25, 2024
The club said in a statement: Nottingham Forest can confirm that it has today lodged an appeal against the four point sanction imposed by the Commission in relation to the Club’s breach of the Premier League’s Profit & Sustainability Rules (PSR).
The club will not be making any further statement at this time.
Forest would have been hit with a six-point deduction, but that was reduced to four after the independent commission praised their ‘excellent co-operation’.
A league statement released on Monday read: “Nottingham Forest Football Club has appealed the decision of an independent Commission to impose a four-point deduction on the club, after its admission of a breach of the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules.
“The club lodged the appeal to the Chair of the Judicial Panel today, who will now appoint an Appeal Board to hear the case.”
Forest wrote a strongly worded statement after being informed of the charge, writing: “Nottingham Forest is extremely disappointed with the decision of the Commission to impose a sanction on the club of four points, to be applied with immediate effect.
They said: “Notwithstanding our disappointment, we thank the Commission for agreeing to deal with this matter on an expedited basis. The club considers it to be essential for the integrity of the league to have charges resolved in the season in which they are issued.
“We were extremely dismayed by the tone and content of the Premier League’s submissions before the Commission.
“After months of engagement with the Premier League, and exceptional cooperation throughout, this was unexpected and has harmed the trust and confidence we had in the Premier League.
“That the Premier League sought a sanction of eight points as a starting point was utterly disproportionate when compared to the nine points that their own rules prescribe for insolvency.
“We were also surprised that the Premier League gave no consideration at all to the unique circumstances of the club and its mitigation. In circumstances where this approach is followed by future PSR commissions, it would make it extremely difficult, if not impossible, for newly promoted clubs without parachute payments to compete, thus undermining the integrity and competitiveness of the Premier League.
“Whilst the Premier League may have called into question the club’s business plan, the club maintains that it responsibly balanced compliance with PSR with important investment into the squad to give us the ability to compete in the league for the first time in over 20 years.
“Even after the club had missed the PSR reporting deadline, it still took steps to ensure Brennan Johnson was sold before the end of the transfer window. That was a clear demonstration of our respect and support for PSR.
“The Commission’s decision raises issues of concern for all aspirant clubs. The player transfer market is a highly specialised trading environment that cannot be compared to the sale of normal products and services.
“There will be occasions when a player transfer cannot be completed in the first half of a transfer window and can only be completed at the end of that window. This should not be a reason for the condemnation of a club. For this not to be recognised by the Commission or the Premier League should be a matter of extreme concern for all fans of our national game.
“Of wider concern for all aspirant clubs is the disturbing effect this decision will have on the operation of the player trading model. This is the only model by which clubs outside of the small group at the very top end of the Premier League can realistically advance up the football pyramid.
“The rationale of the Commission is that clubs should only invest after they have realised a profit on their player development. This reasoning destroys mobility in the football pyramid and the effect of the decision will be to drastically reduce the room for manoeuvre for all such clubs, leading to the stagnation of our national game.
“We believe that the high levels of cooperation the club has shown during this process, and which are confirmed and recorded in the Commission’s decision, were not reciprocated by the Premier League.”
This is how fans reacted as Nottingham Forest put in an appeal against their points deduction from the Premier League…
@TilehurstRed: Pointless statement, pointless appeal which just puts another cloud over us again. Just win some bloody matches and the 4 points shouldn’t matter! 🙁
@martsparts: Would rather have put this whole thing to bed, but Forest and uncertainty 🤝🏼
@Helmkay6: I mean, surely we’re appealing because it’s a strong possibility we win the appeal. If not it’s pretty brain dead, something must’ve come out of those hearings for us to believe we can get something back. What I don’t like, is the further uncertainty. #nffc
@CraigHar85: Genuinely think this is a stupid decision the PL has said breaking the FFP rules is a mandatory 3 point deduction so they are taking all this risk for 1 point I can see them adding 2 more on so it’s 6 points deducted #nffc
@MarsdenMatthew: Ridiculous decision! 4 points was lenient and better than most anticipated. To risk getting more points as a result of an appeal is frankly crazy. We also reintroduce uncertainty for the remainder of the season. Hopefully someone in the club understands how this makes sense.
@OliverPostingLs: Jesús, Dorothy, the last post kid, Nick De Marco, Vera… pack your bags, we’re off to war
@lknffc: Could have just left it tbf, got the remaining points needed and hit back next season on the pitch. But, Que Sera Sera
@jamestic_gamer: Why did we not just settle with the 4 points. This is not going to go well and might just about spell the end for us in the premier league.
@jamieallan1998: Brave decision. Let’s hope it doesn’t backfire.
@henjohansen1: Not a good idea, I think… Will end up getting -6, just wait and see! 🥴
@UpperBullen: Very brave decision
@reddogjamie: Leaves another cloud hanging over us fans again until resolved, but agreed, we should be fighting them 💪
@BrandonnNFFC: I’ll look forward to 4 more as a punishment since every time we complain it bites us in the arse
@DJP9812: Should have taken this on the chin and moved on, I hope this doesn’t backfire on us I know it’s corruption punishment by @premierleague. Premier League has lost the plot, has lost control of bigger clubs, so ends up targeting the so-called smaller clubs,
@sammiej8787: Why are we appealing? Take our medicine and get as many points as we can! Can’t break the rules, then spit the dummy out at the punishment. #NFFC
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