The Premier League say they are ‘surprised and disappointed’ as Leicester City win an appeal to avoid being given a points deduction.
The club have won their appeal over an alleged breach of Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR), meaning the appeal board’s decision all but ends the prospect of Leicester being given a points deduction this season.
Reports state that Premier League are unlikely to appeal this decision because there is a very high legal bar for them to do so, and this case is unlikely to reach that high bar.
Nick De Marco KC (@nickdemarco_) tweeted: “Delighted to have acted for LCFC against the PL in this important appeal. Thank you for all the kind messages I have seen about this interesting case. But I must emphasise that, first, cases are generally won or lost based on the quality of argument & evidence, not the identity of the advocate. None of us are miracle workers. Second, LCFC had a great team that I was just one part of: my juniors David Lowe & Marlena Valles, the great team at Centrefield (especially Stuart, Philip & Alice) and the brilliant & lovely in house team at LCFC itself.”
Football finance expert Kieran Maguire said to Sky Sports: “I think we will see a redrafting of the rules by the Premier League. They will claim that it wasn’t the intention of the rules to allow this environment to take place.
“But Leicester’s legal team clearly spotted that the rules had been poorly drafted. So expect a redraft.
“The Premier League are in a very weak position if they do decide to go ahead with an appeal.”
LEICESTER CITY STATEMENT:
“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.
“To avoid any misunderstandings which may arise in light of the statement which has been issued by the Premier League in response to the appeal decision, Leicester City wishes to emphasise the finding of the Appeal Panel that, when considering the wording which is actually used in the Premier League rules (in accordance with established principles of English law) the club did not breach the Premier League PSRs for the assessment period ending 30 June 2023.
“In its decision, the Appeal Board (which was made of up a panel of three experienced, senior lawyers, two of whom are former Court of Appeal judges) identifies flaws in the drafting of the Premier League’s rules.
“In challenging the Premier League’s attempts to charge Leicester City, the club has simply sought to ensure (in the interests of providing consistency and certainty for all clubs) that the rules are applied based on how they are actually written.”
PREMIER LEAGUE STATEMENT:
“The Premier League is surprised and disappointed by the independent Appeal Board’s decision to uphold an appeal lodged by Leicester City FC regarding the League’s jurisdiction over the club’s alleged breach of its Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSRs) when the club was a member of the Premier League.
“In March this year, the Premier League referred Leicester City to an independent Commission for an alleged breach of PSRs relating to the assessment period ending financial year 2022/23. Once submitted, the club’s financial results demonstrated that it had exceeded the permitted £105m threshold for the relevant period.
“Leicester City subsequently challenged the Commission’s authority to hear the case on the grounds of jurisdiction. This challenge was dismissed by the independent Commission, a decision which Leicester City appealed.
“That appeal has been upheld by an independent Appeal Board on the grounds that the club’s accounting period which ended on 30 June 2023, came after the point the club had ceased to be a member of the League.
“The Appeal Board’s decision effectively means that, despite the club being a member of the League from Seasons 2019/20 to 2022/23, the League cannot take action against the club for exceeding the relevant PSR threshold in respect of the associated accounting periods.”
Nick Mashiter, BBC Sport football news reporter, adds: “It is not just relief, there is a feeling of vindication at the King Power Stadium after the ruling.
“Leicester stood their ground and successfully argued the Premier League acted outside of its own jurisdiction to charge the Foxes with a breach of Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
“While they may be accused of exploiting a loophole, the club want the rules to be enforced as written, rather than being open to interpretation.
“Having extended their accounting period to 13 months – filing on 30 June 2023 – to bring Leicester’s accounting in line with the rest of the business, the Foxes were not a Premier League member, having handed in their shares after relegation, and therefore could not be bound by the top flight’s rules.
“It is ultimately what has saved them from a penalty but it is understood Leicester feel it underlines the ineffectiveness of the rules, given they are not the only club to file on that date, meaning the league would potentially struggle to enforce them on others too.
“The Premier League has questioned the ruling and suggested those who may breach PSR could avoid punishment in these circumstances.
“The league says “this is clearly not the intention of the rules” and the verdict “fails to take into account the purpose of the rules”.
“The league will now consider what further action it can take to ensure it is able to enforce its rules consistently and “maintain the principle of fairness”.
“An appeal is unlikely given the high bar of what it would have to prove, but some rules could be rewritten to avoid a repeat scenario.
“A points deduction had been looming at Leicester, but the lifting of that spectre will be a weight off the club and manager Steve Cooper after a start of one point from their opening three games.
“Now they have won a huge battle off the pitch, the focus is solely about the fight on it.”
Here’s how fans on Twitter reacted with the Premier League ‘surprised and disappointed’ as Leicester win their appeal to avoid a points deduction…
@Lea_EFC: Leicester walk free. Manchester United get away with £75m PSR “Exceptional Allowance” Everton get fucked twice. Forest get tucked once. What a load of bollocks.
@lcfchamez: First thing we’ve won this season
@TheStatsSaint: Cheaters
@Birdiex94x: WAIT WHAT??? 😱
@LestahSam: Does this actually mean no points deduction? Surely not 😭😭
@Ryan91715575: We’ve gotten away with it, despite losing way more money than Forest who actually got a points deduction haha
@Nufc2Everything: Now deduct Everton to -10
@troyboy621: Good for you guys. Fuck the PL
@nufctel: Good news , the premier league are corrupt the more cases won against the daft rules the better
@SneakyScoffer1: People should let you have this win it’s one of the 5 you’ll get this season.
@5stardennis: how did we pull this off 😭😭😭😭
@THENUNEATONFOX: 😂 our lawyers deserve credit for this! Absolutely brilliant. PL fuming now 😆
@CoreySh1elds: fucking lucky cunts
@comeonyoufoxes: Fuck em all, minus points, who gives a fuck, were Leicester boys and we’re staying up
@thedudetalks80: Great news, @LCFC! Now it’s time for the @premierleague to abolish the PSR. It’s unfair to punish some teams while others escape the same consequences. @Everton and @NFFC deserve an apology, and all fines should be rescinded immediately.
@MaxSmelley: Absolute cheats. How is it fair for Leicester to get away with it, only for Everton and Forest not to? I don’t get how it isn’t outside of their jurisdiction. As Forest were charged for 2 seasons when they were in the EFL. Makes no sense at all.
Congrats @LCFC 🙏 we will soon celebrate with you soon as we will beat our 115 charges & defeat the Red Cartel❗️ pic.twitter.com/uobyHh5sst
— The Etihad Lad (@_MCFCLad) September 3, 2024
You must be logged in to post a comment Login