Nottingham Forest appeal plan revealed after eight-point deduction update – sources
Nottingham Forest have escaped a more severe eight-point deduction after being found guilty of breaching the Premier League’s financial rules, sources have told Football Insider.
The Midlands club instead received a four-point penalty, which has dropped them into the drop zone with nine games of the 2023-24 campaign left to play.
A well-placed source has told Football Insider that the Premier League pushed for Forest to be deducted eight points for their Profitability and Sustainability Rule (PSR) breach – which would have left them five from safety.
That has subsequently been confirmed by Nottingham Forest.
Nevertheless, Forest and their owner Evangelos Marinakis is believed to be furious with the independent commission’s verdict and is planning an appeal in the coming months.
Everton were hit with an initial 10-point penalty earlier this season following a breach of PSR for the 2021-22 season – but saw their punishment reduced to six points after an appeal.
Nottingham Forest ‘furious’ and planning appeal despite escape
The Toffees were charged alongside Forest with a separate breach for the 2022-23 campaign but are yet to discover their fate.
Under the current rules, top-flight clubs are allowed to lose £105 million over a rolling three-year period – but Forest had less leeway due to spending two of those years in the Championship.
The Midlands club spent around £150million on 30 new players following their promotion in 2022.
Tottenham’s purchase of Brennan Johnson last summer (2023) comprised a huge part of Forest’s defence in the hearing – which was presented by sports lawyer Nick De Marco KC.
The independent commission revealed Forest rejected bids of £42million from Atletico Madrid, and £30million and £35million from Brentford.
The eventual £47.5million sale to Spurs came too late to be included in the relevant accounts for the 2022-23 season.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side now sit 18th in the table after the punishment and are one point from safety with nine games left to play this term.
In other news, expert stunned by latest points deduction twist as “rules ripped up”.
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