Leicester City have been handed an immediate six-point deduction after being found guilty of breaching the EFL’s Profit and Sustainability Rules, a punishment that has pushed the club closer to the Championship relegation zone.
The sanction drops Leicester from 17th to 20th in the table, leaving them only above the bottom three on goal difference.
The punishment was recommended by an independent commission and approved by the EFL board on Thursday.
Confirming the decision, the EFL said: “On consideration of all relevant factors, the Commission has recommended a deduction of six points. The EFL Board has met to consider the decision and determined that the sanction should be applied to the Championship table with immediate effect.”
The commission ruled that Leicester exceeded the financial limit by £20.8 million over the three-year assessment period ending in the 2023/24 season.
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It also found the club broke Premier League rules by failing to provide annual accounts when requested.
Leicester reacted with disappointment and said it will consider its next move.
The club said: “It is with disappointment that Leicester City acknowledges the independent commission’s decision and the club will use the time available to consider its next steps.”
Leicester also argued that the punishment was too harsh, adding that the points deduction “remains disproportionate”.
The club added: “We are now reviewing the decision in full and considering the options available to us.”
Leicester are next set to travel to Birmingham City as they battle to move away from relegation danger.