Leicester successful with their appeal against a Premier League charge for breaching their spending rules 

Leicester City were successful with their appeal against a Premier League charge for breaching their spending rules but the club may not be out of the woods yet.

Steve Cooper will have been as relieved as anyone when Leicester City beat the historic charge from the Premier League for failing to comply with PSR.

The verdict angered the Premier League as Leicester effectively got off on a technicality as they were not considered a Premier League club at the time their finances were supposed to be submitted and Leicester’s lawyers exploited weak drafting of the regulations.

However, that decision by an independent panel means that Cooper’s side have escaped a points deduction which significantly boosts their chances of survival.

That is good news for a number of reasons but it has now emerged that relegation could lead to further charges against Leicester

That is because The Guardian report that the EFL ‘wants to charge Leicester over the alleged breach of profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) the Premier League was blocked from pursuing this month, if the club are relegated’.

It is the The Guardian’s understanding that the EFL are ‘seeking legal advice after an independent commission ruled the Premier League had no jurisdiction to charge Leicester for overspending during the 2022-23 campaign’.

The legal advice the EFL are seeking is said to revolve around whether Leicester would then fall under their jurisdiction if they are relegated as: ‘The EFL will argue that it can impose sanctions on Leicester for the 2020-23 cycle because the club, despite having competed in the Premier League for all three seasons, were officially in the Championship when their accounts were submitted.

Leicester’s permitted losses would be reduced by £22m to £83m because the EFL’s spending limits are stricter’.

An EFL source reportedly told The Guardian how they feel about the situation, saying: “You can’t have clubs going up and down, and getting away with breaches scot-free on the grounds they’ve changed divisions.

“It’s ridiculous. Promotion and relegation is a fairly well established concept.”

Leicester players and staff should need no extra motivation to avoid relegation this season but a potential further charge looming if they are to be relegated should serve as an extra incentive.

Cooper was glad that everyone connected to Leicester could now focus fully on the football after the verdict of the independent panel reviewing their appeal against the Premier League PSR charge, but the financial state of the club remains a worry.

One way to help with that is to secure another season in the Premier League given the riches that come with top flight status in England.

The Foxes have just two points so far this season but have a huge opportunity to get a huge first win in the league as they welcome Everton to Goodison Park on Saturday.