Latest news with #pointsdeduction
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Non-league football in TURMOIL: Clubs hit out at 'unjust' punishments which have ruined title charges and RELEGATED teams... as FA admits system is built on 'outdated' tech
Non-league clubs across England are in uproar against an 'unjust' system which sees them punished for fielding ineligible players - despite being 'unaware' they're suspended. Title battles and relegation scraps have been settled by points deductions, with at least 13 clubs from the seventh to 10th tiers of English football directly impacted. Teams claim that a faulty FA admin system fails to notify them when a player is suspended for misconduct in Sunday league, which carries over into non-league. This has led to clubs fielding players who are banned while apparently unaware of it, only to be hit with points deductions and fines months down the line. The Whole Game System (WGS), the portal which deals with the admin, is being replaced next season after the FA admitted it is 'built on outdated technology which can no longer keep up the requirements of our users'. Mail Sport has spoken with insiders at multiple teams who feel let down, while sources fear other clubs have got away with the same offence not being flagged. The stance of leagues and the FA? Take more care - you're responsible for your players. The firecest battle involved Lydd Town, which is seeing lawyers wade in. Lydd are protesting a four-point deduction which will see them relegated from the Southern Counties East League Premier Division, the ninth tier of football. Relegation would mean expulsion from the FA Cup, a mass exodus of players, and a drop in attendances, the club says. Manager Ryan Smith is taking their case to an FA hearing at Wembley on June 13 to try and get it overturned. If that happens, Snodland Town would be relegated instead. 'We're being punished off the pitch for something beyond our control. This isn't just a points deduction—it's a betrayal of the game's integrity,' Smith told Mail Sport. 'The highest level we've ever reached—the FA Cup—is now at stake. We will not be silenced; we will not back down. We'll fight this injustice with everything we've got—for the players, the fans, and our club.' Lydd had played Charlie Dickens in seven matches despite the fact he was suspended from all football for a misconduct charge he picked up in Sunday league. Smith argues they were never made aware of the situation and Dickens' Sunday league side, Egerton, even wrote to the league to accept responsibility and admit they never told the player of his suspension. 'Never in 25 years have we had a charge for playing an inelegible player until now,' Smith added over the phone. 'We won 14 games out of our last 18 and were celebrating a great escape. But we only found out (about the punishment) three days before the end of the season.' The league's disciplinary commission disagreed and were 'satisfied' that the suspension would have been showing on the Whole Game System for multiple weeks. This is one of many cases, though in most the clubs have backed down. Lydd Town were the only club who would speak on the record. There is also a fear that other sides have committed the same offence but gone unpunished. An anonymous source well acquainted with football in Kent describes one situation where the league only became aware an ineligible player had featured because they were notified by a man walking his dog who recognised him. In the Combined Counties Premier League South, also the ninth tier, Jersey Bulls and Redhill have missed out on the title after points deductions. AFC Whyteleafe have been promoted on 95 points, with Jersey Bulls and Redhill being made to settle for play-off positions on 93 after being docked three each. Jersey Bulls mistakenly played Toby Ritzema in a 4-0 win against Tooting and Mitcham after misunderstanding a suspension. They voluntarily forced him to sit out for two matches beforehand after he reached 10 yellow cards, with one of those coming in the FA Vase. The FA admitted earlier this season that the Whole Game System was unfit for purpose Clubs hit with points deductions Seventh tier (non-league step three) Isthmian League - Premier Division: Cray Valley -3 Eighth tier (non-league step four): Northern Premier League East Division: Grimsby Borough -3, Brighouse Town -3 (relegated as a result) Southern League South Division: Tavistock (-1) Ninth tier (non-league step five): Combined Counties League Premier Division South: Jersey Bulls -3 (missed out on title), Redhill -3 (missed out on title) Northern Counties East League Premier Division: Albion Sports -3 (missed out on play-offs) Southern Counties East League Premier Division: VCD Athletic -1, Lydd Town -4* (relegated if FA appeal fails) Tenth tier (non-league step six): Northern League Division Two: Bedlington Terriers -3 (relegated anyway) Northern Counties East League Division One: Dronfield Town -3 (relegated anyway), Appleby Frodingham -3 (relegated anyway) Southern Counties East League First Division: Rochester United -6 *Seventh-tier Matlock Town have also been deducted three points and are relegated, but Mail Sport understands this was not related to the Whole Game System. But the FA Vase booking did not actually count towards his total of 10, so when he did subsequently reach that threshold, the club were unaware and played him against Tooting and Mitcham. Redhill have been punished for the same offence and therefore Whyteleafe, who finished third, have been promoted. Elsewhere, Albion Sports have missed out on the play-offs of the Northern Counties East League Premier Division, while Brighouse Town have been demoted from the Northern Premier League East Division, both after three-point deductions. Mail Sport contacted both to clarify the circumstances which have led to their docks, but neither got back. A tenth-tier club, Rochester United of Southern Counties East Division 1 (SCEFL 1), accepted a six-point deduction with 'disappointment' after twice fielding Max Morgan - despite not knowing a ban had crossed over from Sunday league. The club wrote: 'Rochester United at all times have never sought to deny that the player played, our mitigation has always been that we never knew he was suspended, a fact that was examined in detail and found credible by an independent FA Disciplinary Panel back in January. 'Sadly SCEFL declined to hear the same body of evidence despite repeated offers, gave misleading information on the appeals process, and generally thwarted all discussions on the fallibility of notification systems that are being retired at the end of this season.' Mail Sport has contacted the Kent FA for comment. An FA spokesperson told Mail Sport: 'The Whole Game System successfully administers football across over 900 leagues, 18,000 clubs, and 1.5 million players annually. 'Whilst suspensions are administered via the system, clubs are ultimately responsible for checking the status of suspensions and any cards issued are processed in accordance with FA Rules and Regulations.'
The Sun
5 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Leicester City ‘face starting Championship season with TWELVE-point deduction after alleged £17m in PSR breaches'
LEICESTER CITY are facing a huge points deduction for next season if found guilty of breaching PSR rules. The Foxes were relegated back to the Championship last month following a dismal Premier League campaign. 1 And they could begin the 2024/25 season in the second tier playing catch-up. The Premier League issued charges last week alleging a PSR breach of over £17million across a three-year period. According to the iPaper, Leicester could be hit with a MINIMUM 12-POINT penalty if found guilty. EFL guidelines state that 12 points should be docked for a PSR breach. Deductions are then applied on a sliding scale if the breach is less than £15m. The Prem are reportedly set to argue Leicester be docked more points after failing to submit their accounts on time last December. A spokesperson said earlier this month: "Following an Arbitration Tribunal's decision concerning jurisdiction, Leicester City FC has now been referred to an independent Commission for alleged breaches." "The EFL Championship Profit and Sustainability Rules (P&S Rules) for Season 2023/24. "The club's obligation to provide its Annual Accounts to the Premier League by 31 December 2024. "And the club's obligation to provide full, complete and prompt assistance to the Premier League in response to the League's inquiries." Both the Premier League and Leicester declined to comment to the outlet. Leicester have announced 11 players are leaving the King Power this summer. Danny Ward, Daniel Iversen and club legend Jamie Vardy are all among those released following the expiry of their respective contracts. Vardy, 38, has been linked with a shock free transfer to Newcastle. The former England striker spent 13 years at Leicester, scoring 200 goals in 500 games. Vardy scored nine Prem goals and provided four assists this season. Since announcing his departure from the club, he has also been linked with Crystal Palace, Wolves and Wrexham.
The Independent
20-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Leicester could face Championship points deduction after fresh Premier League charge
Leicester City could face a points deduction in the Championship after the Premier League charged the club over alleged financial breaches in the 2023-24 campaign. An independent commission will now hear the case to conclude whether the Foxes broke profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) during their time in the Championship last season. Back in the second tier once more, after suffering relegation from the Premier League, following the sacking of Steve Cooper and Ruud Van Nistelrooy 's failure to spark a revival, an early setback could arrive in the shape of a points deduction. It means the midlands club are now involved in another legal battle with the Premier League, having earlier this season won an appeal that prevented the League from charging them for breaching PSR rules in 2022-23. The Foxes claimed the Premier League did not have jurisdiction to charge them because they were competing in the Championship at the time. The Premier League contested Leicester's successful appeal but a tribunal ruled in the club's favour, saying the League's challenge fell below the threshold set by the organising body itself. The Premier League has since changed its rulebook to close the loophole and prevent similar cases in the future, while also allowing it to open new proceedings following alleged breaches for the 2023-24 season – when Leicester were in the Championship. The club are also accused of failing to provide their annual accounts to the Premier League by December 31, 2024 and not offering 'full, complete and prompt assistance' to the Premier League in response to the League's enquiries. A Leicester statement read: 'Consistent with its previous commitments, the club intends to engage cooperatively in this matter now that the Premier League's jurisdiction has been established for the period ending FY24. 'However, we will not be able to comment further on these proceedings until they are concluded, due to their confidential nature.'
Telegraph
20-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Leicester face Championship points deduction after fresh Premier League charges
Leicester City are facing the renewed threat of a points deduction after three fresh charges by the Premier League. Four weeks after Leicester's relegation to the Championship was confirmed, the club are now in danger of punishment next season for alleged financial breaches in the 2023-24 campaign. The Premier League has charged the 2015-16 title winners for allegedly breaking the profitability and sustainability rules [PSR] during their promotion season in the Championship, and failing to submit their annual accounts on time. Leicester are also accused of breaching 'the club's obligation to provide full, complete and prompt assistance to the Premier League in response to the League's inquiries.' This latest legal row will go before an independent commission and sources have claimed that, if found guilty, a likely sanction is a hefty points deduction. Recent changes to the rules now stipulate that any punishment can be applied at any time after a perceived 'loophole' was closed, so Leicester could be hit with a points deduction in the Championship next season. Earlier this season Leicester won a legal challenge on the basis that the league did not have jurisdiction to punish them for breaching the PSR threshold leading up to the 2022-23 season. The club said they had identified 'flaws' in the Premier League rules, with sports lawyer Nick De Marco and his team compiling their case. It was effectively argued that Leicester could not be punished by the Premier League as they had been relegated to the Championship when their accounting period ended on June 30. During Leicester's Championship season, the English Football League imposed a transfer embargo after the club allegedly breached the upper losses threshold. The investigation was then passed onto the Premier League following the club's promotion under Enzo Maresca last year. An EFL spokesperson said: 'The EFL notes that the Premier League has today referred Leicester City to an independent commission for an alleged breach of profit and sustainability rules for the period ending season 2023-24. 'The EFL commenced an investigation into this reporting period following the March 2024 submissions and as is permitted in accordance with EFL regulations, jurisdiction for that passed to the Premier League at the conclusion of the 2023-24 season on the club's promotion. We will now await the outcome of the Premier League proceedings and until then are not able to comment any further on the matter.' Leicester have reported financial losses of more than £200 million over the three-year reporting period. Clubs are permitted to lose £105 million in the Premier League, though clubs who have operated in the Championship are adjusted to £81 million. Leicester adopted a combative stance last year, issuing legal proceedings against both the Premier League and EFL. The Premier League's handbook states that any PSR complaint must be heard by an independent commission within 12 weeks of the charge. Under the management of former Manchester United striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Leicester are currently third from bottom and play their final game of the season at Bournemouth on Sunday.
The Sun
20-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Leicester charged with alleged breach of PSR and set for legal battle with Premier League
LEICESTER CITY are facing a POINTS deduction after being charged with yet another alleged breach of PSR rules. The Foxes escaped a Premier League points deduction earlier this season after they were charged with a £24.4million breach for the 2022/23 campaign. 1 The Premier League challenged the initial ruling, but their appeal was dismissed. But the Foxes face the prospect of being deducted points next season for an alleged breach of Profit and Sustainability Rules for the 2023/24 season. An excerpt of a club statement read: "Leicester City FC notes the Tribunal decision which has been published today. "The Club is pleased that it successfully defended the Premier League's challenge to the Appeal Board decision in relation to the PSR assessment period ending FY23, which was the main focus of these proceedings. "The Premier League's own rules provide a deliberately high threshold for any challenge to the decision of an Appeal Board. "In this case, the Appeal Board's decision was only capable of being overturned if it could be shown to have resulted from a 'perverse interpretation of the law' or was a decision 'which could not reasonably have been reached'. "The Appeal Board decision was reached by a highly experienced panel (including two former Court of Appeal judges) and, although the tribunal may have disagreed with the decision, it dismissed the Premier League's challenge, finding (consistent with the arguments made by the Club all along) that the Appeal Board decision 'could not sensibly be seen as resulting from a perverse interpretation of the law'. "The tribunal also concluded that the Premier League was successful in establishing jurisdiction on one of the two grounds argued by the Premier League with respect to the assessment period ending FY24, and the Premier League has now referred this to an independent Commission. "Consistent with its previous commitments, the Club intends to engage cooperatively in this matter now that the Premier League's jurisdiction has been established for the period ending FY24. "However, we will not be able to comment further on these proceedings until they are concluded, due to their confidential nature." The margin of Leicester's alleged breach of PSR rules for the 2023/24 campaign is currently unknown. THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY..
