If the independent committee had followed Premier League CEO Richard Masters’ recommendation, Nottingham Forest would have received an unusual 13-point deduction, more than Everton’s original punishment.
That is according to finance expert Kieran Maguire, who told Football Insider exclusively that if Masters’ recommendation had been considered, Forest would have faced a far larger penalty.
Forest lost four points last month after being charged with violating the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules.
The initial punishment was a six-point penalty, which was reduced to four points due to the club’s cooperation during the investigation.
However, when engaging with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport, Premier League CEO Masters suggested that any infraction result in a six-point loss, with each £5 million over the limit adding an additional point.
According to Richard Masters’ guidelines, Nottingham Forest might face a 13-point deduction.
According to Maguire, Forest’s penalty is “confusing” because the Premier League should have suggested a 13-point deduction for their £34.5 million spending.
“I think what we have seen from the Nottingham Forest hearing is a much more concise and interesting breakdown,” Maguire told Sean Fisher of Football Insider.
“But that has raised as many questions as it has answered.
“The Premier League, according to the commission, requested an eight-point deduction.
“Yet, when you look at Richard Master’s representations to DCMS, he stated that the Premier League’s optimum tariff would be a six-point deduction plus one point for every £5 million over the limit.
“That means they were asking for a 13-point deduction based on the Premier League’s own suggestion, but they only requested eight.
“So we’ve got increased confusion and an increased lack of clarity coming from those at the top.”
