ClaphamFox

A large number of their fans seem to be under the impression that we’ve somehow breached PSR this season despite the accounting period not being over for another two months. On the basis of this misapprehension, they’ve concluded we’ve ‘cheated’ our way to the title and are convinced their owners are on the brink of suing us to oblivion. They’re not the brightest bunch, that’s for sure.

I just listened to the first part of this. What did Amapdu do/say in the tunnel after we lost at their place? I went into social media lockdown after the final whistle of that game so it must have passed me by...

100%. Over the past month I've lost count of the number of times I've heard journalists and 'experts' say that we because we've legally challenged the PL and EFL we can forget about getting a reduced points deduction for cooperation - yet NONE of them ever bother to mention that those challenges have been successful so far. If we'd have cynically delayed proceedings with frivolous legal challenges that were ultimately rejected, I could see their point - but clearly this is not what has happened. Punishing us for a successful challenge would be like a court acquitting somebody of a crime but then sending them prison anyway because they had the cheek to defend themselves. It's completely bonkers - yet this is apparently what a lot of sports journalists believe will happen

Good news if true, but not particularly surprising - it would have been a very weird move for the PL to uphold an EFL transfer embargo for a suspected PSR breach when it doesn't use that punishment itself. The article is poorly written, though. It says that we are "locked in an extraordinary legal battle with the Premier League" but doesn't explain what we're battling with them about - which would be useful to know given that the threat to impose a points deduction this season has already been removed. It also says that any hope of mitigation for the 2020-23 breach has been removed because of our "aggressive legal threats", but fails to mention that our legal challenges so far have been completely vindicated. Will the independent panel punish us for correctly challenging the EFL/PL for breaking their own rules? I'd be interested to see how they could justify that...

That's right. I'm pretty sure our only outstanding legal action is against the EFL for the transfer embargo it slapped on us because it thinks we might breach PSR for 2021-24. I assumed that the embargo would automatically lift once we officially become a PL member again, but the Guardian article discussed above suggests that the PL might decide to keep it in place. I've no idea whether they are allowed to do that, but if they do it would be incredibly harsh given that the embargo relates only to a possible breach of the rules rather than an actual breach. It would be an extraordinary move by the PL, though no doubt one that would be cheered on by lots of other clubs.

Did the Premier League members hold a vote on whether to punish us while we're in the Championship, and to fast-track that punishment - both of which are against the rules? Or was it the senior PL management that did that?

Where did you hear this?

This aspect is being overlooked by some people. If KDH decides he’d prefer to stay than move to any of the clubs that put offers in, he won’t be leaving.

This is Leicester mate. Have the events of the past few seasons not taught you anything?

The EFL HQ is in Preston. They’ve told us we have to go and pick the trophy up ourselves. We have to wait outside and somebody from security is going to bring it out in a bin bag.

I originally voted yes but have changed it to no. Just got a bad feeling about the next week - our recent away record doesn’t bode well for tomorrow and Blackburn need a point to avoid relegation, so they’ll give it a real go on Saturday. Just can’t see it happening for us I’m afraid 😟

I think it does matter. Certainly, the view among the majority of journalists reporting on this seems to be that if we breach for 2021-24 too, our punishment for this second breach will be either a fine imposed while we’re in the PL or a suspended points penalty to be enacted if/when we get relegated again.

That’s certainly one way of looking at it - and it may be what the club decides to do. But it’s also possible that the club will weigh up the likely cost (in terms of player departures) of complying this season against the likely cost (in terms of punishment) if we breach again, and decide that flogging our best assets for less than they’re worth will hurt us more than breaching. I have no idea which choice we’ll make, but I think either are possible.

We may not breach for this season. And even if we do, it’s highly unlikely we’ll get a points deduction for it while we’re in the PL.

No - there is no way this can happen.

Under its own rules, the maximum penalty the Premier League can seek to impose is a 12-point deduction - and that’s for the worst breaches. That’s what they sought for Everton. The panel initially imposed 10 on Everton then reduced it to six after admitting it had erred in its original decision. We’ll likely end up with a four or six point deduction at the beginning of next season.

We also have the opportunity to cooperate with the panel that reviews our case.

Alright, we can now.

The hearing for Man City's 115 charges could be held in the 'near future' (whatever that means): https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/mancity-115-charges-hearing-date-32678876.amp

Indeed - what a trip that was. It's probably my favourite of all the away CL trips, although Porto and Seville run it pretty close....

Yep, the source of my enthusiasm for Sep Smith (my beloved late grandfather) was also pretty emphatic that Chandler was better than Rowley.

No room for Sep Smith, widely regarded as Leicester's best ever all-round player?

It is. If they lose tonight and Birmingham win tomorrow, they may need a win away at Coventry next week to avoid being relegated. I'm sure they'd much prefer to get it done tonight. It's a massive game for them.

Reasonable and fair.

Let's get this done tonight. I mean I know we're not playing and have no influence on events at Loftus Road and all that, but if we show the right attitude we should be promoted by by 10pm this evening. Anything less is unacceptable.