Brighton and Hove Albion’s Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest have been docked four points for breaching Premier League financial rules.
The deduction drops Forest into the Premier League’s relegation zone, leaving them 18th with nine games to play.
The punishment arrived just days after Nuno Espirito Santo’s team suffered a 1-0 loss in the Premier League to Brighton at the Amex Stadium.
It’s a huge boost for the survival hopes of Luton Town, who now move out of the drop zone and play Tottenham after the international break. Everton are 16th and take on Bournemouth when the season resumes, while Brentford and Crystal Palace are just above in 15th and 14th respectively.
The Premier League said Forest admitted breaching profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) by £34.5million above their permitted threshold of £61million.
Clubs are usually allowed maximum losses of £105million over a three-year assessment period but this is reduced by £22million per season for any seasons within the period spent in the Championship.
