Leicester City and Premier League launch appeals after points deduction decision
Both Leicester City and the Premier League are appealing against the points deduction handed to the club at the beginning of the month.
That saw Leicester drop from 17th to 20th in the second-tier standings and outside of the relegation zone on points difference.
However, defeats against Birmingham and Southampton have since seen the club, now managed by Gary Rowett, slip into the bottom three, two points from safety and four adrift of 19th-placed Pompey, who are currently on 36 points from their 31 games played following their 3-1 win at Charlton Athletic on Tuesday night.
Both appeals lodged, however, could impact the final make-up of the table and the affect the relegation battle that will unfold over the remainder of the season.
While Leicester believe the six-points deducted is too much, it’s understood that the Premier League believe a stronger punishment needs to be imposed - ranging from 12 to 20 points.
A final decision is expected to be made before the end of the season.
At present, Sheffield Wednesday (-7 points) and Oxford United (28) are the other two sides occupying the bottom three.
Between Leicester and Pompey sit West Brom (34) and Blackburn Rovers (35) - all of whom have played one more game than John Mousinho’s side.
Of the teamscurrently battling for their Championship survival, the Blues still have to play Blackburn (March 7, away), Norwich (April 3, away), Oxford United (April 6, home) and Leicester (April 18, home).
According to a statement released by the Premier League: ‘Leicester City Football Club has appealed the decision of an independent commission to impose a six-point deduction on the club, after it found them to be in breach of the EFL Profit and Sustainability Rules.
‘The Premier League has lodged its own appeal, limited to the commission’s decision not to impose a sanction on the club for its breach of the League’s rules regarding the late submission of its annual accounts.
‘The parties submitted their appeals to the chair of the judicial panel today, who will now appoint an appeal board to hear the case.
‘To provide certainty for all clubs and fans, the Premier League will be seeking to have the appeals resolved urgently, and in any event before the end of the EFL season.’
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