- Premier League strugglers, Nottingham Forest, have been hit with a significant four-point deduction
- This is following findings that they breached the league’s profitability and sustainability rule
- The specific nature of the breaches hasn’t been disclosed by the Premier League yet
Premier League strugglers, Nottingham Forest, have been hit with a significant four-point deduction after a breach of the league’s profitability and sustainability rules (PSRs).
The decision, announced by the Premier League on Monday, plunges the club deeper into the relegation battle, dropping them from 17th to 20th in the table, just one point above the relegation zone.
Why Did Premier League Dock Nottingham Forest 4 Points?
The specific nature of the breaches hasn’t been disclosed by the Premier League, but PSRs are designed to ensure clubs operate sustainably and don’t spend beyond their means.
These regulations aim to prevent reckless spending that could lead to financial collapse, protecting the long-term health of clubs.
Nottingham Forest beat Manchester United 2-1. Photo/ Sporting Life.
The news comes as a major blow to Forest, who were promoted to the Premier League for the first time in 23 years last season. Manager Steve Cooper had expressed cautious optimism about their survival chances, but this points deduction significantly complicates their fight to stay in the top flight.
Forest have the right to appeal the decision, but the timing couldn’t be worse. With just nine games remaining in the season, every point is crucial. The club’s hierarchy faces a significant challenge, needing to both negotiate potential appeals and rally the team to secure enough points to avoid relegation.
What We Know So Far
Although Forest acknowledged the violation, their defense rested on exceptional circumstances surrounding Brennan Johnson’s sale.
Early in the summer of last year, the club got a £30 million bid from Brentford. However, the forward was unwilling to transfer, and Forest believed they could obtain a higher price for their prize player if they extended the PSR deadline to June 30.
Although Johnson was sold to Tottenham in September for £47.5 million, this defense was rejected by an impartial panel.
Nottingham Forest. Photo/Sky Sports
The club maintained their strategy was intended to make them more sustainable, despite the fact that all proceeds from the sale of Johnson, an academy product, went down as profit.
Over a three-year period, Premier League clubs are authorized to lose £105 million, but Forest’s permissible losses were only £61 million as they played two of those years in the Championship.
This was another area of their defense, as the team claimed they were unable to compete at a higher level against more established teams since they had to invest in their roster after getting promoted.
Forest helped them maintain their Premier League position last season by signing 42 players at a cost of almost £250 million after their promotion.
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