Reading hit with another points deduction by the EFL

Reading have been hit with another points deduction by the EFL, confirmed in a statement on Wednesday (13th September 2023).

John Percy first confirmed the news, saying in a tweet: The omnishambles continues at #ReadingFC – a new 3-point deduction for failing to deposit funds in a designated account by yesterday’s deadline. Independent commission made the decision today. That’s now a total of 16 points deducted under the current ownership.

That also means a total of 4 points deducted from Reading this season, leading to to dropping down one place into the League One relegation zone.

Club statement | A suspended three-point penalty has been triggered and will now be applied to our League One total with immediate effect.

Full information ⬇️

— Reading FC (@ReadingFC) September 13, 2023

EFL STATEMENT

Reading FC have been deducted three points from the 2023/24 League One table after the Club failed to comply with the order of an Independent Disciplinary Commission (IDC) which required them to deposit an amount equal to 125% of the Club’s forecast monthly wage bill in a designated account by 12 September 2023.  

On 15 August 2023, the IDC had determined the Club had breached EFL Regulations related to the Club having failed to pay its players’ wages on time and in full on or around 31 October 2022, 30 November 2022, and 28 April 2023. The Club received a one-point deduction, with a further three points suspended.

As a result of this latest instance of non-compliance by the Club’s ownership, the suspended sanction has been activated and, as per the Commission’s instructions, applied by the EFL to the League One table with immediate effect. 

The EFL continues to acknowledge the negative impact sporting sanctions are having on the Football Club and remain extremely disappointed and frustrated at the Club’s ownership to meet its ongoing obligations under EFL Regulations. The League will continue to apply its rules in all circumstances deemed appropriate.   

The Independent Disciplinary Commission’s Written Reasons can be viewed here. 

READING STATEMENT:

Reading Football Club can confirm that a suspended three-point penalty has been activated as a result of owner Mr Dai failing to deposit an amount equating to 125% of the club’s monthly wage bill into a designated account by the deadline of Tuesday 12 September 2023, as ordered by the Independent Disciplinary Commission in its decision of 15 August 2023.

Last month, the club received a one-point penalty in relation to breaches of Regulation 64.7 of the EFL Regulations (relating to three instances of late payment of player wages), with a further three-point suspended penalty to be applied should the club fail to pay players’ wages on time on any further occasion before 30 June 2024, or should the deposit payment fail to be paid.

The points deduction will now be applied to our League One total with immediate effect.

As communicated to our supporters previously, Mr Dai is currently undertaking an ongoing process of seeking sources of stable external investment for the football club, with the aim of mitigating the risk of cashflow complications arising in future.

This is what fans had to say as Reading are hit with another points deduction by the EFL…

@dingjohnny1871: Actually I’m danger of getting relegated. GET DAI YOUNGE OUT, SORT OUT A PROPER PROTEST

@dingaidan_: League Two 🔜

@WillS20041: Just fold us pls

@LukeB_RFC: Nice one cheers

@ReadingUltra: I literally have no words

@Caryslee99: Sadly not surprised 😅

@Tatum1871: That’s right keep punishing the club and fans for the actions of an owner you placed there. 16 points deducted across his entire ownership period and you see nothing wrong with more points deductions instead of actually doing something about it. Cheers

@Joshm376473: We are going day say we are going down 🎶

@hrryjnes: Keep punishing the fans again, how is this allowed to keep happening?

@AdamHumphries96: Rather than constantly giving us points deductions purely because of our owner, can you not help us get rid of him? What is the point of the EFL if you can’t forcibly get rid of an owner who is clearly intent on killing a football club?

@joel_shelton: You let him pass the fit and proper owner test and then continue to punish the club and the fans.

@ednoni: The EFL continues to acknowledge the negative impact sporting sanctions are having on the Football Club and remain extremely disappointed and frustrated at the Club’s ownership to meet its ongoing obligations under EFL Regulations. Bollocks do you!!!

@iJC106: Embarrassing from a bloke who’s ‘committed’ to the club despite running it into the fucking ground. Next time #SellBeforeWeDai arrange a protest, everyone who actually cares about the club better get involved. We NEED to make our voices heard before it’s too late. #ReadingFC

@Cameronseagell: It’s actually laughable at this point with yet another 3 point deduction from clown yongge being a useless c*nt as per. #readingfc

@cjwells73: Aggghhhh… @ReadingFC you absolute shambles. You have a team of amazing young lads performing brilliantly and you F$&k them over by not paying wages and losing their hard won points. #readingfc #shambles

@MikePea73444529: So Yongge has let us all down yet again and we gave yet another points deduction. The thought of dropping into League Two and still under a transfer embargo doesn’t bear thinking about. He is destroying our club #readingfc

@HughIsle: Can we actually have anti-Dai chants during games now instead of pussyfooting around upsetting people #readingfc

@james_e1871: Staff at the club must be, and are, bloody saints. Not sure I’d be able to hold my tongue against my owner/boss for that long with what he’s done. Honest people who care about the club. Must be like slamming your head against a brick wall. Heroes, the lot of them #readingfc