Leicester City are set to avoid a points deduction this season after winning their legal row with the Premier League, in a major blow for the governing body.
Last season’s Championship winners will not be punished for an alleged breach of the league’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules in the 2022/23 season, successfully arguing the charge could not be applied as they were not in the Premier League at the time.
Leicester were initially charged in March, while they were still in the Championship, and have effectively won their case after an independent commission agreed with the club’s defence that the rules did not permit it.
After Leicester’s appeal, the commission ruled that there was no jurisdiction for the case to be heard and now Leicester will not be facing any sanctions.
The Premier League has confirmed they will now consider whether to make a subsequent appeal of their own, but the development is regarded as a huge success for Leicester.
Everton and Nottingham Forest were both hit with points deductions last season and it was believed that Leicester would also face punishment after the charge for breaching PSR, while also failing to submit their audited accounts.
However, Leicester were always confident of building a strong case, with sports lawyer Nick De Marco leading their defence.
It was initially believed that the appeal would fail, with the prospect of the case dragging into next year, but the commission’s verdict was released on Tuesday evening.
Leicester are also confident of avoiding a further charge for the 23/24 season, after agreeing the £30 million sale of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to Chelsea, and the £10 million in compensation from the same club for manager Enzo Maresca, before June 30 and the end of the financial year.
A Leicester statement read: “Leicester City welcomes the Appeal Board’s comprehensive decision, which supports our consistently stated position that any action against the Club should be pursued in accordance with th
