Nottingham Forest fail in appeal against Premier League points deduction

Nottingham Forest’s attempt to overturn a four-point deduction for violating the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) has been unsuccessful.

Forest received the deduction in March following the discovery that they had exceeded spending limits by €32.2 million over a span of three years. Initially facing a six-point deduction, the club’s prompt plea and cooperation led to a reduction to four points.

The two-time European champions lodged an appeal against the verdict, which was subsequently heard by an independent commission last month. The Premier League has verified that their appeal has been dismissed, and the four-point deduction will stand.

“An independent Appeal Board has upheld the decision of a Commission to deduct four points from Nottingham Forest following an admitted breach of the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR),” a statement read.

“The PSR sanction applied to the assessment period ending Season 2022/23 and was appealed by the club on two grounds. The club argued that the independent Commission committed an error in not treating its sale of a high-profile player shortly after the assessment period as a mitigating factor, and that it committed a further error in electing not to suspend some or all of the points deduction it imposed.

“Each of these grounds was rejected by the Appeal Board, which found the independent Commission was entitled to immediately impose the sanction it did. The four-point deduction will therefore remain in place.” This development serves as a significant boost for Burnley and Luton, both engaged in a battle with Forest to evade relegation.

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Forest currently lie 17th in the Premier League, just above the three relegation spots in the 20-team competition. Luton trail them by three points while Burnley, who will host Forest in the final round of fixtures on 19 May, are two points further back.

The club and their fellow relegation contenders will find relief in having clarity on the situation ahead of the final matches. Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo had previously voiced criticism of the situation, expressing concern that the uncertainty surrounding the outcome of any appeal was detrimental to the League.

“It can affect the integrity of the competition, no doubt about it,” the Portuguese manager stated last month. “In terms of our approach, it will not change. Since we arrived there has always been the same objective, to win the games and realise that we have tough opponents and how we can do things.

“It’s a mess because it’s appeal after appeal after appeal and we don’t know what exactly is going to happen. We have expectations, Everton have expectations and the other clubs don’t know what is going to happen or for the next season. All these things must be solved as soon as possible.”

Everton were deducted 10 points last November for breaching PSR in the 2021/22 season although that penalty was reduced to six on appeal. The Merseyside club, who have already secured safety in the top flight, then received a further two-point deduction in April for PSR breaches during the 2022/23 campaign with an appeal scheduled for next week.