Nottingham Forest points deduction twist stuns Kieran Maguire – it will harm Premier League ‘integrity’
The “integrity” and “credibility” of the Premier League will be damaged if the Nottingham Forest points deduction is changed after the end of the season.
That is the view of finance expert Kieran Maguire, who exclusively told Football Insider that it is not fair for fans of Forest, Brentford and Luton to be left in the dark about their club’s position in the table.
Forest were given a four-point deduction earlier this week after being charged with a breach of the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules.
They have three days remaining to decide whether or not to appeal the decision.
If Forest choose to appeal, the independent commission report states that a verdict will be made on 24 May – five days after the end of the Premier League season.
Football Insider was told by ex-Everton CEO Keith Wyness that it is “mindboggling” that clubs could be relegated after the season has ended.
Nottingham Forest appeal verdict could cause permanent damage to Premier League
A change in the points deduction verdict could cause the Premier League standings to change after all matches have been played.
Maguire believes the Premier League as a product would be damaged if that scenario occurs.
“I think the Premier League as a product will lose an awful lot of credibility if the Nottingham Forest verdict is delivered after the end of the season,” Maguire told Football Insider’s Sean Fisher.
“It will have more of an impact domestically, and I say that with a tinge of sadness because most international fans are more concerned about what’s happening at the top of the division.
“But in terms of the competitive balance and in terms of the integrity it will be impacted.
“Forest could be relegated with an asterisk on the last game of the season and three days later Nick De Marco could be carried shoulder-high around the city of Nottingham.
“If that is the case, it’s not fair – not fair on the Forest fans because we all want clarity but also not fair on the fans of Luton, Brentford and other clubs towards the bottom.
“Fans might now head to matches not knowing what their team needs to survive or what the table looks like.“
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