Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Guardian Nigeria
Published on 2024-03-18 15:18:40
Reports on Monday revealed that Nottingham Forest has been hit with a four-point penalty for breaching the financial regulations of the Premier League. This penalty was a result of the league charging Forest and Everton with violations of the profitability and sustainability rules back in January.
As a result of this points deduction, Nottingham Forest now find themselves in a precarious position in the league standings. Currently sitting in 17th place with 25 points, a deduction of four points would see them drop to 18th place with only 21 points. This would place them just one point behind Luton, who would climb out of the relegation zone due to Forest’s penalty.
This situation mirrors the punishment handed down to Everton in November when they were initially deducted 10 points, which was later reduced to six on appeal. Everton are still awaiting a decision on whether they will face further penalties in relation to their second charge.
The Premier League’s financial regulations stipulate that clubs cannot exceed losses of £105 million over a three-season period. However, due to Forest spending two of those seasons in the Championship, their maximum permitted loss was capped at £61 million.
There is a possibility for Forest to appeal this penalty, with the Premier League aiming to conclude the process by no later than May 24th, just five days after the end of the top-flight season.
This situation serves as a reminder of the importance of financial fair play within football and the consequences that clubs may face for breaching these regulations. It also highlights the significant impact that points deductions can have on a team’s position in the league and their overall success in the season.
Moving forward, Nottingham Forest will need to navigate this setback and strive to secure crucial points in their remaining matches to avoid the threat of relegation. It remains to be seen how this penalty will impact the team’s performance and morale in the coming weeks as they battle to secure their place in the Premier League.
