Nottingham Forest learn outcome of appeal against Premier League points deduction

Nottingham Forest's four-point Premier League deduction will remain after they failed in their appeal against the penalty for a Profit & Sustainability Rules (PSR) breach.

Forest were dealt the deduction back in March and avoided a six-point penalty having cooperated with the Premier League over the £34.5m breach. However, they sought to appeal being docked four points regardless.

The Athletic were first to report on Tuesday that an independent commission has rejected their appeal and they remain in a relegation battle heading into the final two weeks of the season.

The Premier League later confirmed: "An independent Appeal Board has upheld the decision of a Commission to deduct four points from Nottingham Forest following an admitted breach of the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

"The PSR sanction applied to the assessment period ending Season 2022/23 and was appealed by the club on two grounds. The club argued that the independent Commission committed an error in not treating its sale of a high-profile player shortly after the assessment period as a mitigating factor, and that it committed a further error in electing not to suspend some or all of the points deduction it imposed. Each of these grounds was rejected by the Appeal Board, which found the independent Commission was entitled to immediately impose the sanction it did. The four-point deduction will therefore remain in place.

"Click here to read the independent Appeal Board’s full written reasons."

"Appeal Boards are independent of the Premier League and member clubs. The Appeal Board in this case comprised of the Rt Hon Lord Dyson (chair), David Phillps KC and Daniel Alexander KC, each of whom was appointed by the independent Chair of the Premier League Judicial Panel."

The outcome of this appeal means Forest could still be relegated to the Championship, sitting only three points above 18th-place Luton Town and five ahead of 19th-place Burnley.

Forest can, however, secure safety this weekend. If Luton and Burnley both fail to win in their respective 3pm games - the Hatters travel to West Ham United while the Clarets head to Tottenham Hotspur - then the Reds will maintain their Premier League status with only a point at home to Chelsea in the late kick-off.

On the final day of the season, Forest travel to Burnley in what could yet prove to be a relegation play-off, while Luton host Fulham.

Forest are not the only team to have received points deductions for PSR breaches this season. Everton had an initial ten-point penalty reduced to six on appeal before receiving a further two-point deduction, though this second charge is subject to another appeal. Nevertheless, they are no longer in risk of relegation.

READ THE LATEST PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS, RUMOURS & GOSSIP