Birmingham City deducted nine points over EFL rule breaches to throw club into Championship relegation battle

Birmingham City deducted nine points over EFL rule breaches to throw club into Championship relegation battle
Birmingham City have been docked nine points over breaches of the English Football League’s profitability and sustainability rules, the English Football League has confirmed.The Championship club entered a hearing earlier this week with the EFL believed to be pushing for a 12-point deduction.

EFL statement: Birmingham City.https://t.co/tJbtQnJCOf#EFL pic.twitter.com/3Mqxq9zgFe— EFL (@EFL) March 22, 2019

However, as first revealed by Jim White on talkSPORT, the Blues have instead been docked nine points due to their excessive spending over the past few years.It is understood Birmingham have avoided any transfer restrictions as well as a potential fine for their breaches.The club have 14 days to appeal the decision, through the Championship table has been amended with immediate effect.An EFL statement read: “An independent Disciplinary Commission, appointed under EFL Regulations, has today ruled that Birmingham City will be deducted nine points as a result of a breach of the Leagues Profitability and Sustainability Rules (Rules).“It follows a review of the financial submission from Birmingham City for the three-year period 2015/16 to 2017/18 where it was determined the Club had recorded losses in excess of the 39.0m upper loss threshold. “On 14 August 2018 the Club was charged with a breach of those Rules. At a hearing on 18 March 2019, the Club pleaded guilty to the charge, and after hearing representations from both parties, the panel has fully considered the matter and ruled a nine-point deduction is appropriate, which will take effect in the current season.”The St Andrew’s outfit published their annual accounts in January, with their excessive overspending clearly detailed.Huge wage increases during Gianfranco Zola and Harry Redknapp’s managerial tenures saw Birmingham spending a remarkable 202 for every 100 they brought in.The Championship club also recorded a loss of 37.5million in the 12 month period ending June 2018.The Profitability and Sustainability Rules, aligned with those in the Premier League, became effective in 2015/16,” said an EFL spokesperson. “Season 2017/18 was the end of the first full reporting period with Birmingham City the only Club found to have breached those requirements, when it incurred adjusted losses of 48.787 million, 9.787 million in excess of the permitted losses.

LIVE on talkSPORT

There are six live commentaries across the talkSPORT network this week. Find out what they are and where to hear them, below...

• England vs Czech Republic (Friday) talkSPORT
• Walsall vs Barnsley (Saturday) talkSPORT 2
• Shrewsbury vs Portsmouth (Saturday) talkSPORT 2
• Gibraltar vs Republic of Ireland (Saturday) talkSPORT 2
• San Marino vs Scotland (Sunday) talkSPORT 2
• Netherlands vs Germany (Sunday) talkSPORT 2

The Disciplinary Commission had the opportunity to consider all relevant factors in reaching itsdetermination, including the Clubs mitigation.Furthermore, Birmingham also ignored a transfer embargo last summer to sign Kristian Pedersen, the full-back.The EFL initially refused to register Pedersen, but after reviewing such a move from a legal standpoint, the 24-year-old was finally awarded clearance to play two days before the start of the season.The league’s governing body expressed their disappointment at Blues ignoring the embargo to sign Pedersen, who has gone on to represent the club 30 times this season.A nine-point deduction leaves Birmingham just five points above the Championship’s bottom three, throwing the club into a relegation battle.2

The Championship table before (left) and after (right) Birmingham’s points deduction

Before being docked points, Blues were sitting comfortably mid-table under Garry Monk, with 14 points separating them from the final relegation place. They were also only seven points off the play-off positions, though Birmingham’s recent woeful form ended talk of a promotion push; Blues have lost each of their previous four matches.The points deduction leaves Birmingham down in 18th, just five points ahead of Rotherham in 22nd.Getty2

Garry Monk faces a fight to keep Birmingham in the Championship over the final weeks of the season

They face a tough run of fixtures over the next few weeks with promotion contenders West Brom, Leeds and Sheffield United all coming up in their next three matches.Blues then also take on fellow relegation rivals Ipswich, Rotherham and Wigan before facing Reading on the final day of the season.

---

The 33-year-old limped off before the end of Arsenal's Checkatrade Trophy win against Portsmouth at Fratton Park on Tuesday evening. Koscielny limps from the pitch With around ten minutes to go the French defender signalled that he was feeling some discomfort and the physio jogged on.
Koscielny injury concerns played down after Checkatrade

---

Liverpool news: Reds legend Sami Hyypia heaps praise on 'young Virgil van Dijk' Joe Gomez and says he can be England star for years to come by: 161385360554578 — Talk Sport 3h
Eden Hazard: Chelsea star admits he looks up to Liverpool
footballnote.com/eden-hazard-chelsea-star-admits-he-looks-up-to-liverpool-forward-mohamed-salah/
Liverpool news: Reds legend Sami Hyypia heaps praise on 'young Virgil van Dijk' Joe Gomez and says he can be England star for years to come Next Tottenham Hotspur stadium: 10 things we can't wait for at the new White Hart Lane, including the South Stand and the longest bar in Europe
News list for no opponent has dribbled past virgil van dijk

---

Arsenal Q&A live: Stan Kroenke, Europa League final, transfer news, Ryan Fraser and Mesut Ozil. James Benge fields your questions on a host of the biggest issues at Arsenal following the 4-1 defeat to Chelsea in Baku
5 Arsenal players that could leave in January - mirror

---

Queens Park Rangers v Leeds United at Loftus Road is our match this weekend as Marcelo Bielsa begins his first FA Cup campaign. Unconventionally, the Elland Road chief named his full line-up in Friday's press conference and we are expecting six changes from New Year's Day's XI.
Marcelo Bielsa gives update on his long-term future at Leeds

---

Owen Oyston's removal from Blackpool board hailed as a

---

Fulham complete late deal for Liverpool´s Lazar Markovic Premier League strugglers Fulham made a surprise swoop for forgotten Liverpool winger Lazar Markovic on a busy transfer deadline day
The Latest: Fulham signs winger Markovic from Liverpool

---

Paul Pogba believes Manchester United are recapturing the spirit of the 'Class of 92' and wants to help nurture the club's next crop of academy talents. The Red Devils have been rejuvenated since interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took over from the sacked Jose Mourinho in December, winning 10 of 12 matches and going unbeaten until the
Buzz Website

---

Bristol Rovers sack Darrell Clarke after four years as manager

---

Liverpool ensured they would be top of the table at Christmas after goals from Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk sealed a 2-0 victory at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

---

Spurs ready to offer £100k a week to midfielder. Tottenham have discussed the January signing of Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Jonas Hofmann, according to Bild. The report claims the Lilywhites are prepared to offer Hofmann a contract worth around £100,000-per-week, which would put him among the club's highest earners.
Chelsea star Eden Hazard 'almost signed for Tottenham' after

---

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is one defeat away from Manchester United's worst run for 27 years Manchester United 0-1 Barcelona | Champions League The Hammers beat the Red Devils 3-1 when Jose
Solskjaer cancels end-of-season United meeting | Buzz.ie

---

The dates and kick-off times for the FA Cup fifth round ties have now been confirmed. Round four saw numerous Premier League sides tumble out of the competition at the hands of lower league teams as AFC Wimbledon and Millwall delivered memorable giant killings over West Ham United and Everton respectively.
FA Cup fifth round draw recap as Manchester United - mirror

---