Leicester City have become the fourth side to be charged with alleged breaches of Premier League profitability and sustainability rules (PSRs) despite being in the Championship currently. They follow Manchester City, Everton, and Nottingham Forest in being accused of breaking financial regulations with two of those so far found guilty.
Having watched the Toffees be docked 10 points for going over the allowed loss-making threshold – £105million for top-flight teams over a rolling three-year period, reduced by £22million for each year in the EFL – before having it reduced to six on appeal, and Forest deducted four themselves, the prospect of punishment looms.
Leicester’s case, for the period ending in 2022/23 – the last year they were in the first division – has now been referred to an independent commission. Alongside waiting to hear about Everton’s second charge, Forest’s appeal, and anything much at all related to City’s monster case, Leicester are now in partial purgatory.
Just how any possible sanction will be applied is of yet unknown, but the precedent has been set with points deductions. Leicester’s statement noted that the Premier League does not have the power to impose any sanctions this season.
As City now look to respond to going second in the table – albeit on goal difference and still with a game in hand – they have a cloud over their heads. Leeds United are the form team in the country and Ipswich Town are still hot on the heels of the automatic places. Even Southampton in fourth have two games in hand that could cut the gap to three points of Leicester.
It is notable if nothing else, that form has dipped dramatically since initial reports of financial trouble and the potential proceeding punishments were first reported earlier this year. That is also largely understandable.
How Leicester continue to react to possibility of a points deduction could go some way to deciding just how successful this season is. Without the FA Cup as a distraction – a good thing or not – there is now just one goal in mind.
Although it seems there will be no punishment this season, the mental strain of these scenarios will remain. How will the players and staff carry themselves in what is totally unprecedented times?
Take Man City last year. They were charged in early February 2023, at the time they had lost their grip on the league and were in a rocky patch (sound familiar?). Pep Guardiola’s side would ultimately manage to put this all behind them and stormed to the treble. They had no need to call upon uncertainty heading into each match and how it impacted their mindset, but it would have been understandable had that been the case.
Maresca must now channel that part of his great mentor, and see the club over the line with minimal attention paid to the Excel spreadsheet arguments being drawn up. Everton were already in a relegation battle when they were charged almost 12 months to the day.
They didn’t react like Man City, and failed to win any of the six games following the charge. They would, eventually, stabilise to finish outside the drop zone on the final day, if it needs reminding.
In November they were incensed by the points deduction announcement and put that into a cohesive performance on the field, winning four of their next five games. A massive collapse of four losses in six and one win in 15 since has left them in a precarious spot.
Recently it was said by several players in the relegation scrap that the prospect of teams around them losing points had impacted their preparation, at least on an individual level. Add promotion into the mix and this is a recipe for disaster.
How will Forest respond? We’re yet to fully find out, but they’re in trouble. Leicester quite frankly cannot afford – maybe literally and figuratively – to react like this.
City showed the way, brushing aside the noise to romp home in all competitions. For Leicester to avoid the most controversy (because it will always be in the background now) then the title must be won again, with the club ready to face any punishment head on as a Premier League club next season
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