Leicester City won their appeal against an alleged infraction of profit and sustainability regulations (PSR).
An independent panel determined that there was no jurisdiction for the case to be heard, meaning the Foxes will not lose any points this season.
Rival teams, including Nottingham Forest, are claimed to be astonished by the result, while the Premier League issued a statement expressing “surprise and disappointment.”
Forest, along with Everton, received a points deduction in the 2023/2024 season for violating PSR rules.
The rules allow teams to make a loss of £105 million over three years.
Nottingham Forest fans are all saying the same thing about Leicester’s points appeal
The news of Leicester’s win has reverberated throughout English football.
On the one side, people appear to be pleased that a club has exploited a loophole and mocked the league’s PSR regulations, yet there is a sense among Forest fans that they have been treated unfairly.
One fan commented on X: “I’m sure there are far more intricacies than I’m aware of, but why does a year of Championship football get Leicester out of charges but Forests 2 years contributes to a PSR charge and 4 points deducted…”
I’m sure there are far more intricacies than I’m aware of, but why does a year of Championship football get Leicester out of charges but Forests 2 years contributes to a PSR charge and 4 points deducted…. #NFFC
— Andrew 🏹 (@Nesto25) September 3, 2024
A second commented: “Unbelievable. How Forest couldn’t use the fact that two of the three years were at championship level as mitigation yet Leicester who were in the prem for all 3 years can get away with it?!”
Unbelievable.
How Forest couldn’t use the fact that two of the three years were at championship level as mitigation yet Leicester who were in the prem for all 3 years can get away with it?!
Baffling. #nffc https://t.co/lx96vI26vM— Thomas Payne (@trickytrees12) September 4, 2024
Another said, “Peeved, baffled, shocked, and appalled.” One rule applies to one person while another applies to another. I understand it’s an independent panel, but there must be some consistency! Either Leicester or Forest should not have been fined.
Peeved, baffled, shocked, appalled.
One rule for one, one for another.
I know it is an indepedent panel, but there must be some consistency!
Either, Leicester should have been punished, or Forest shouldn't have been.#NFFC
— Max Smelley (@MaxSmelley) September 3, 2024
“So two of Forest’s seasons were spent outside of the Premier League, but they may be punished, whereas a tribunal has concluded that Leicester cannot? “Just be consistent one way or the other; the Premier League is a shambles,” said a fourth.
So two of forests years were outside the prem but they can be punished yet a panel have ruled that Leicester can’t be ? Just be consistent one way or the other, premier leagues a shambles #nffc
— OnandOffthepitch (@OOffthepitch) September 3, 2024
What have the Premier League said about Leicester’s appeal
Shortly after Leicester reported the result of their appeal, the Premier League issued their own statement.
On the official Premier League website, they stated: “The Premier League is extremely disappointed with the Appeal Board’s judgment and the inadequate grounds presented for it. The League believes that the original Commission took the correct approach in interpreting the regulations in a realistic and pragmatic manner that achieves their intended purpose.
“In overturning the initial Commission’s conclusions, the Premier League believes the Appeal Board’s decision fails to evaluate the objective of the rules, the relevant elements of the PSRs, and the importance of effective enforcement of alleged breaches to guarantee fairness among all teams.
“If the Appeal Board’s ruling is correct, it will have created a situation in which any club that exceeds the PSR threshold may dodge accountability in these precise circumstances. This is obviously not the intention of the regulations.
“The Premier League’s ability to consistently implement its rules is vital to maintaining the notion of fairness. The League will now assess what more steps might be taken to guarantee this occurs.”