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Nottingham Forest are the latest Premier League club to face punishment over financial breach after being handed four-point deduction.
Nottingham Forest finds themselves in a precarious position after being hit with a four-point deduction for breaching the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability rules.
The penalty has plunged Forest into the relegation zone, sitting 18th in the Premier League table with 21 points, trailing Luton by a single point. An appeal is anticipated in response to the punishment.
According to the Premier League, Nottingham Forest exceeded the Profit and Sustainability Regulations (PSR) threshold by a significant £34.5 million during the relevant period.
The breach was discovered alongside fellow Premier League club Everton in January 2024, with the Toffees initially facing a 10-point deduction, later reduced to six.
The announcement of Forest's deduction comes at a crucial juncture in the campaign, raising concerns about their ability to secure top-flight status. In response to the penalty, Forest released a statement expressing disappointment with the decision, citing concerns about the Premier League's handling of the matter and its potential impact on the club's competitiveness.
“We were extremely dismayed by the tone and content of the Premier League’s submissions before the Commission,” said a statement from Forest.
“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.”
The statement highlighted Forest's cooperation with the Premier League throughout the process and expressed dismay over the severity of the sanction imposed. Forest criticised the Premier League's failure to consider the club's unique circumstances and mitigation efforts, raising concerns about the potential implications for newly promoted clubs without parachute payments.
Additionally, Forest pointed to the sale of Brennan Johnson to Tottenham as a pivotal aspect of their defence against breaching spending rules. The club's statement underscored the importance of fair and transparent processes in upholding the integrity and competitiveness of the Premier League.
As Forest prepares to contest the deduction through the appeals process, the club faces significant challenges in maintaining their Premier League status while navigating the fallout from the financial breach.
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