Leicester City Football Club has taken decisive action in response to charges of breaching financial regulations by initiating “urgent legal proceedings” against both the Premier League and the English Football League (EFL).
The charges stem from alleged breaches of the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability regulations during Leicester’s tenure in the top-flight over the past three seasons, including the 2022-23 campaign, which concluded with the club’s relegation to the Championship.
In a statement released on Friday, Leicester revealed that they have been subjected to a transfer embargo by the EFL as a consequence of the financial rules investigation. The club expressed its determination to address these matters through independent legal channels to ensure fair and proportionate adjudication.
“(Leicester) has been compelled today to issue two urgent legal proceedings against the Premier League and the EFL,” the club said. “LCFC will be seeking that each of these proceedings is determined by an appropriate and fully independent legal panel.
“The club is committed to ensure that any charges against it are properly and proportionately determined, in accordance with the applicable rules, by the right bodies, and at the right time.”
Leicester added in a statement that the transfer embargo issued by the EFL was “restrictive and premature, with more than a quarter of the club’s 2023-24 reporting period remaining.”
Leicester emphasized the importance of impartiality in the adjudication process, asserting their commitment to ensuring that any charges brought against them are adjudicated by appropriate and independent legal panels. The club underscored its dedication to upholding the integrity of the regulatory framework, advocating for a fair and transparent resolution.
Moreover, Leicester criticized the EFL’s imposition of a transfer embargo, characterizing it as “restrictive and premature” given the significant portion of the 2023-24 reporting period that remains. The club is determined to challenge the embargo and contest its validity, arguing for a more considered and equitable approach to enforcement.
This legal maneuver comes in the wake of disciplinary actions taken against other clubs this season for financial irregularities. Both Everton and Nottingham Forest have faced penalties for overspending, with Everton receiving a points deduction, later reduced on appeal, and Forest suffering a four-point deduction. These sanctions underscore the seriousness with which football authorities are addressing financial compliance within the sport.
Leicester’s decision to pursue legal recourse reflects their firm stance against the charges leveled by the Premier League and the EFL. The club maintains that it will vigorously defend its position, asserting its right, and that of other clubs, to pursue their ambitions within the confines of established regulations and through sustained sporting achievement.
As the legal proceedings unfold, Leicester remains steadfast in its commitment to upholding the principles of fairness, transparency, and sporting integrity, advocating for a resolution that preserves the club’s rights and safeguards the interests of all stakeholders involved in the process.