Leeds United's 2023/24 Championship promotion rivals hit with points deduction over £20.8m breach
One of the sides who beat Leeds United to promotion from the Championship in the 2023/24 season have been docked six points for breaching financial rules by £20.8 million en route to the title.
An independent commission has recommended an immediate six-point deduction for Leicester City in the Championship, having found them to be in breach of the EFL's Profit and Sustainability Rules for the campaign in question. Leicester finished top of the table, seven points clear of third-placed Leeds who had to settle for the play-offs and a Wembley defeat by Southampton.
The Foxes' stay in the top flight lasted just one season, a 25-point haul only good enough for 18th place and immediate relegation back to the Championship where they have struggled this season. The deduction will place them directly above the drop zone, level with 21st-placed Blackburn Rovers on 32 points and in danger of back-to-back relegations.
A Premier League statement confirmed: "An independent Commission has recommended that an immediate six-point deduction be imposed on Leicester City FC in the Championship, having found them to be in breach of the EFL P&S Rules for Season 2023/24.
"Upon Leicester City’s promotion to the Premier League in 2024, the EFL’s investigation into the club’s alleged breaches of the P&S Rules transferred to the Premier League. Following an Arbitration Tribunal’s decision in March 2025 that confirmed the Premier League had jurisdiction, Leicester City were referred to an independent Commission in May 2025.
"During a week-long hearing in November 2025, Leicester City raised a range of legal challenges regarding the applicability of the relevant Rules and the Commission’s ability to impose a sanction on the club, all of which were rejected. These included a claim that the relevant rules were in breach of competition law.
"The Commission accepted the club’s submissions as to the length of the relevant assessment period and that a particular accounting policy relating to player costs should apply to reduce the club’s losses in its 2022 annual accounts. Having done so, it determined that the club had breached the relevant P&S threshold by £20.8 million over the three-year assessment period (2022-2024).
"The Commission found that the club’s refusal to provide its annual accounts to the Premier League by the relevant deadline was a breach of Premier League Rules. It also dismissed a claim by the club that it had demonstrated exceptional cooperation throughout the proceedings. Following agreement by the parties, and consistent with the relevant guidelines, the Commission agreed that the club’s improving financial position over the relevant assessment period was a mitigating factor.
"Under EFL Regulations, as Leicester City is currently a Championship club, the EFL Board today ratified the Commission’s recommendation of an immediate points deduction."