Leicester City have suffered a severe setback following their relegation from the Premier League, compounding recent misfortunes on and off the pitch. Already struggling to find stability in the English Championship, the club had recently been dealt another blow when midfielder Hamza Choudhury was ruled out through injury. Now, the Foxes face an even more damaging challenge: a six-point deduction for breaching financial regulations.
The penalty has had an immediate effect on Leicester’s league standing, dropping the former Premier League champions from 17th to 20th place in the Championship table. Despite this, the club remains just above the relegation zone on points, though the margin is perilously thin.
As of the latest update, the Championship standings for the teams around Leicester are as follows:
| Position | Club | Points | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | West Bromwich Albion | 32 | Top of relegation zone, equal points |
| 19 | Blackburn Rovers | 32 | One place above relegation zone, goal difference advantage |
| 20 | Leicester City | 32 | Deducted six points, narrowly above relegation zone due to goal difference |
The six-point deduction stems from alleged violations of the Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) covering a three-year period, which were initially raised by the English Premier League in May of last year. The Premier League’s investigation concluded that Leicester had breached these regulations, leading to Thursday’s formal sanction.
Leicester City, who were relegated from the Premier League last season, currently lack a permanent manager. Since parting ways with manager Martí Cifuentes in January, the club has been under the guidance of interim coach Andy King. In a statement responding to the deduction, Leicester expressed deep disappointment and criticised the decision as “inconsistent,” highlighting their frustration with yet another obstacle to regaining stability.
The club will have little time to regroup, with their next Championship fixture scheduled for Saturday night against Birmingham City. Birmingham sit 13th in the table with 32 points from 30 matches, meaning Leicester will face a challenging encounter as they aim to climb out of the shadow of the relegation zone.
For a club once celebrated as Premier League champions, the combination of on-field injuries and off-field financial penalties represents a turbulent start to the 2023–24 campaign. Leicester City now face the daunting task of steadying the ship if they hope to secure safety and rebuild their reputation in English football’s second tier.