The EFL announced that Sheffield United will receive a points deduction, dealing a serious blow to one of Birmingham City and West Bromwich Albion’s possible Championship rivals.
The Blades, who have only won three of their 31 games this season and are currently bottom of the Premier League, will lose two points before their next season in the Championship because they were unable to pay several other clubs during their tenure in the second division.
A statement from the EFL stated: “An independent Disciplinary Commission (IDC) has concluded that Sheffield United Football Club will receive two point deduction at the beginning of the next season in which the Club is under the EFL’s jurisdiction, and two more points suspended until the end of that same season.
The 2022–2023 season, in which the Club fell behind on several payments to other Clubs, is the reason for the suspension. The total number of defaults was more than 550 days. If the Club misses more than five working days in a row making payments that are due to another Club under a transfer or compensation agreement, the suspended points deduction will be initiated. The Club has agreed to pay £310,455 toward the EFL’s expenses.
The Blades quickly posted a statement on their club website in response to the news. Although Sheffield United was disappointed to have the deduction imposed upon returning to the EFL and acknowledged that the club’s financial situation was impacted by outstanding payments from multiple clubs, the statement stated that the club decided it was preferable to come to an agreement that reduced the possibility of a higher deduction or additional transfer embargoes being imposed, as well as the distraction of drawn-out and expensive legal proceedings. The club can finally put this issue behind them and focus on the future.
The penalty won’t be used if Chris Wilder’s team succeeds in its attempt to avoid relegation from the Premier League; it will only be applied if they are demoted.With a victory over Sunderland on Saturday, West Brom will look to be among the teams displacing the Blades in the top division and will look to maintain their push for a play-off spot. With a victory over Coventry City at home on Saturday, Birmingham City hopes to move closer to retaining their second-tier status. However, they are more concerned with issues at the other end of the table.
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