The Premier League’s independent Commission has issued a verdict, dismissing Leicester City FC’s appeal to its power to investigate an alleged infraction of the Profitability and Sustainability Rules. The Club filed an appeal against the ruling. Jane Mulcahy KC, Mark Vinall, and Jason Pobjoy represented the Premier League. Nick De Marco KC, David Lowe, and Marlena Valles represented Leicester City FC.
Leicester City appeals after losing the Premier League PSR judgment.
City has promptly challenged the Premier League’s recent ruling in their Profit and Sustainability Rules issue addressing their finances for the three-year cycle until 2022-23. The battle of words between the Premier League and Leicester City continues, with the club appealing the latest judgment about an alleged breach of financial standards. An independent committee has denied City’s petition, which claimed the Premier League lacked power to charge them with an alleged violation of Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) for the three-year cycle ending in June 2023.
City has since appealed against the ruling. They maintain their argument that the Premier League is acting outside of its own rules. The lawsuit concerns a Premier League complaint brought against City in March, when the governing body determined that they had over the PSR overspend maximum of £105 million for the three-year cycle that ended with the 22-23 season, when they were relegated.
With that charge, City was submitted to an independent disciplinary panel, where their case would be heard and their punishment determined. If considered in breach, a points deduction is likely, as seen at Everton and Nottingham Forest. In their initial response, City stated that they were “surprised” and “extremely disappointed” with the Premier League’s timing. They stated that the club would “continue to defend itself from any unlawful acts by the football authorities”.
City filed a complaint, arguing that as an EFL team at the time of the charge, they were not subject to Premier League rules. An independent commission has now rejected City’s claim and ruled in favor of the Premier League. On Thursday, an independent commission denied Leicester City FC’s claim that it lacks jurisdiction to investigate an alleged infraction of Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSRs).
“In March, the Premier League sent the team to an independent panel over the alleged infraction. Leicester City then challenged the commission’s authority to hear the matter. The alleged breach concerns the PSRs for the 2022-23 season, when the club competed in the Premier League.
The city immediately responded, challenging the verdict. Their statement read: “LCFC takes note of the Premier League Commission’s decision, which was published today. The club is upset with the decision, which does not appear to follow the text of the Premier League Rules, and has filed an appeal.” These most recent accounts make no mention of the 23-24 finances, in which City was also at peril. It is anticipated that the sale of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to Chelsea for £30 million will result in the club avoiding an EFL charge and so potential further punishment.
