West Bromwich Albion could face a points sanction this season over a potential breach of the EFL’s Profitability & Sustainability rules.
West Brom at risk of points deduction over EFL charge
The Telegraph revealed on Monday that the Club Financial Reporting Unit (CFRU) had filed a compliance report to the Baggies over a breach of the loss limits for the 2024-25 season under the EFL’s P&S rules.
It is understood West Brom have 14 days from receipt of the CFRU compliance report to file a response and any hearing should usually take place within 28 days of the compliance report being submitted.
The club have since release a statement denying any wrongdoing.
West Bromwich Albion acknowledges media reports relating to the club’s compliance with the EFL’s Profitability & Sustainability (P&S) rules.
The club considers that it has fully complied with the P&S rules. The club will continue to co-operate with the EFL’s Club Financial Reporting Unit and looks forward to resolving this matter.
Albion understands the concerns of supporters and thanks fans for their unwavering support of the team, whose success on the pitch during the final four games of the season remains our absolute priority.
It would not be appropriate for the club to comment further at this stage.
Under sanctioning guidelines, any sanctions should be applied in the season after breach – which would mean if a points penalty were imposed it would affect Albion’s points total this season.
That would of course have a significant impact on James Morrison’s side, but what would it mean for their rivals?
Rank
MP
GD
Pts
20. West Brom
42
-14
46
21. Portsmouth
41
-16
45
22. Oxford United
42
-13
44
23. Leicester City
42
-10
41
24. Sheffield Wednesday
42
-57
-4
Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday are already relegated after suffering from their own points deduction due to their ongoing takeover issues.
The Owls sit on -4 points and are in the process of wrestling control away from Dejphon Chansiri, with David Stroch’s Arise Capital consortium making positive steps to bring the club out of administration.
Despite this, Wednesday are also at risk of a new 15-point deduction going into next season, unless they can pay off £15m in debts to Chansiri.
Leicester City
Leicester currently sit on 41 points after being hit with a six-point deduction, recently losing an appeal against the decision.
The Foxes are four points from safety but could have one less side to climb over if the Baggies are docked points, meaning they would likely only need to catch Oxford or Portsmouth to secure survival.
Oxford United
Oxford picked up a huge result over the weekend with a 2-0 win over Watford, leaving them just a point from safety and the big winners if West Brom are punished.
A deduction for the Baggies would lift Matt Bloomfield’s side into 21st place and safe for another season as things stand.
Portsmouth
Portsmouth have a game in hand on their rivals, welcoming Ipswich Town to Fratton Park on Tuesday, where a win would move them four points clear of the bottom three.
If West Brom are docked points in the coming weeks, Pompey would rise to 20th even with a defeat against promotion chasing Ipswich.