According to football finance expert Stefan Borson, the situation concerning Leicester City is highly unpredictable following allegations of breaching the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability rules. Borson suggests that Leeds United’s decision to initiate legal proceedings against their promotion rivals might not work in their favor if Leicester is found guilty.
Leicester is the third club this season to face charges from the Premier League, with Nottingham Forest and Everton already penalized by point deductions. The impending release of Leicester’s financial accounts is anticipated to reveal a breach in spending regulations. Furthermore, the club is now subject to a transfer embargo imposed by the EFL, which is conducting its own investigation into the matter.
In response to the charges, Leicester has issued two assertive statements, the latest highlighting the ‘urgent’ legal actions taken against both governing bodies. Borson suggests that this aggressive legal stance could backfire for Leicester, potentially resulting in a harsher punishment. He points out that Nottingham Forest received a relatively lenient penalty after cooperating with the league following their charge.
Borson explains that by resisting the charges vigorously, Leicester risks forfeiting any potential mitigation in punishment. This could elevate them to the higher end of the punishment spectrum, typically ranging from 3 to 8 points deduction for a significant breach of Profit and Sustainability rules.
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Due to being bound by the older rules, Leicester’s legal process is expected to be prolonged and complex, likely extending into the middle of the next season. Borson mentions Leicester’s legal representative, Nick De Marco, who also represented Nottingham Forest, indicating that the club may have confidence in their arguments to contest the charges, even at the expense of potential cooperation-based mitigation.
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