Leicester City could 'face two separate points deductions' for alleged rule breaches

Newly-promoted Leicester City face not one but two points deductions which could damage their hopes of Premier League survival, it has been claimed.

The Foxes were relegated in 2023 but bounced straight back. They topped the Championship last season under Enzo Maresca, though the manager has since left for Chelsea with Steve Cooper taking his place.

Cooper's preparations for the upcoming season have been dealt a blow, though. Leicester were charged by the Premier League in relation to their spending during the 2022-23 accounting period, though they contested whether action could be taken while they were outside the top flight.

There are also questions of their compliance with financial rules last season, with The Sun claiming the EFL conducted a real-time investigation into the club's challenges. The same publication indicates the Premier League is expected to push for two separate penalties for the 2015-16 league champions.

It wouldn't be the first time a Premier League club has been hit with two points penalties inside one season. Last term, Everton suffered that fate in relation to offences in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 accounting periods.

Teams are limited to £105m in losses across periods of three seasons under the competition's Profit and Sustainability Rules, and failure to comply can bring punishments including points deductions. Everton saw an initial 10-point deduction reduced to six on appeal, with a separate two-point penalty following.

Nottingham Forest were also hit with a points deduction last season, failing in an appeal to see it reduced. However, they and Everton were both able to stay up despite the deductions.

Leice s ter have been quieter than fellow promoted sides Southampton and Ipswich during the transfer window, but have still made additions. Abdul Fatawu joined permanently following a successful loan, while there have also been moves for Caleb Okoli, Michael Golding, Bobby Decordova-Reid and loanee Facundo Buonanotte.

Can Leicester survive points deductions and stay up? Have your say in the comments section

Leicester finished top of the Championship last season
(Image: PA)

Cooper's side will take on Tottenham in their Premier League opener on Monday night. However, they will go into the game light on attack after Kelechi Iheanacho's summer exit and injuries to Patson Daka and Jamie Vardy.

“Patson [Daka] obviously is not great news,” Cooper said in his pre-match press conference.. “He suffered quite a serious ankle injury last week in the game in Lens and he is going to be out for a good few months. He’s having an operation today (Friday). That’s really unfortunate for him because he was looking good in pre-season.

“Vards, similarly, he’s been injured since the second week of pre-season now, when we were on one of our pre-season camps. He’s closer to returning but it will be a little while, although he’s itching to get back. But it’s not great at that end of the pitch."

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