Latest Nottingham Forest news: Reds penalized points for breaking Premier League finance regulations.
Nottingham MPs have raised “concerns” over Nottingham Forest’s point deduction.
The Reds were punished four points for violating the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules. The penalty given by an independent committee has pushed Nuno Espirito Santo’s team into the relegation zone, with nine games remaining.
Forest are the second Premier League team to have had points deducted this season. Everton had ten points deducted earlier in the season for a PSR violation, which was reduced to six on appeal, but they are now facing a second accusation.
It comes as legislation to establish an independent regulator was tabled to Parliament this week, bringing it closer to reality. The Football Governance Bill, which will establish the regulator in law, was introduced in Parliament on Tuesday.
Following Forest’s point deduction, Nottingham MPs Nadia Whittome, Lilian Greenwood, and Alex Norris wrote to Culture, Media, and Sport Secretary Lucy Frazer, underlining “perceived inconsistencies between smaller and larger clubs”. They have requested that “all proceedings and sanctions” be halted until the regulator is in place.
Their statement stated: “We write to express our concerns about the Premier League Commission’s sanctioning decisions and perceived inconsistencies between smaller and larger clubs.
Nottingham Forest FC has received a four-point deduction for violating the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability guidelines. This follows Everton FC’s ten-point deduction, which was reduced to six points on appeal. Meanwhile, Manchester City FC faces 115 charges for suspected violations of several rules during a nine-year period, although their case has yet to be heard or settled.
“Sanctions, as well as the procedure by which they are imposed, must be fair and transparent.
“Football is a vital aspect of our culture. It is important to fans and communities around the country, since it fosters a sense of local pride while also helping to local businesses. To protect the integrity of the game and the Premier League, as well as to ensure transparency and accountability to fans, we believe it is critical to immediately legislate for an independent regulator tasked with enforcing financial regulation and establishing new safeguards for corporate governance, club ownership, fan engagement, and competitive regulation. We thus welcome the publishing of the Football Governance Bill, which attempts to establish such a body.
“We ask your Department to define the anticipated timescale for establishing the regulator, as well as to clarify what it implies for teams like Nottingham Forest, which are now dealing with the ramifications of the Premier League Commission’s findings. We request that you urge the Commission to halt all procedures and sanctions until the regulator is operational.”
