Nottingham Forest Slams Premier League for Four-Point Deduction
In a strong statement released on Monday night, Nottingham Forest has criticized the Premier League for imposing a four-point deduction on the club. The deduction has caused Forest to drop into the relegation zone. This is the second time this season that a club has faced punishment for breaching profitability and sustainability rules, with Everton previously being hit with a 10-point deduction, which was later reduced to six after an appeal.
Forest is reportedly furious with the decision and claims that these financial rules will “destroy mobility in the football pyramid.” The club expressed their disappointment with the Commission’s decision to impose the sanction and thanked them for dealing with the matter on an expedited basis. Forest believes that charges should be resolved in the season they are issued to maintain the integrity of the league.
The club also expressed their dismay with the Premier League’s submissions before the Commission, stating that it harmed their trust and confidence in the league. Forest finds it utterly disproportionate that the Premier League sought an eight-point starting point for the sanction when their own rules prescribe only nine points for insolvency. They were also surprised that no consideration was given to the unique circumstances of the club.
Forest argues that if this approach is followed by future PSR commissions, it would make it extremely difficult for newly promoted clubs without parachute payments to compete, thus undermining the integrity and competitiveness of the Premier League. Despite the Premier League questioning Forest’s business plan, the club maintains that they responsibly balanced compliance with PSR (Profitability and Sustainability Rules) while making important investments into the squad.
The Commission’s decision has raised concerns for all aspirant clubs. Forest highlights that the player transfer market is a specialized trading environment that cannot be compared to the sale of normal products and services. There are occasions when a player transfer cannot be completed in the first half of a transfer window and can only be done at the end. Forest believes that this should not be a reason for condemnation and that the failure to recognize this by the Commission or the Premier League is concerning for all fans of the national game.
The decision is expected to have a disturbing effect on the operation of the player trading model, which is the only way for clubs outside the top end of the Premier League to advance up the football pyramid. The Commission’s rationale that clubs should only invest after realizing a profit on player development is seen by Forest as destroying mobility in the football pyramid and leading to the stagnation of the national game.
Forest believes that their high levels of cooperation during this process were not reciprocated by the Premier League. The club feels that the decision will drastically reduce the room for maneuver for all clubs and hinder the progress of the national game.
This decision has sparked concerns among football fans and clubs alike, as it sets a precedent for future sanctions and potentially restricts the growth and competitiveness of clubs outside the top tier. It remains to be seen how Forest’s appeal will be received and whether any changes will be made to the Premier League’s approach to financial rules and sanctions.