West Bromwich Albion have been docked two points by the English Football League (EFL) after an independent panel ruled the Championship club breached profitability and sustainability regulations.
The immediate deduction drags Albion back into the relegation battle and wipes out the sense of safety created by their midweek win over Watford. The Baggies drop from 18th to 20th in the table on 50 points, leaving them six points above the drop zone with two matches remaining.
The club had been charged with exceeding the £39 million loss limit across the three seasons to 2024-2025, a claim they strongly disputed.
However, following a two-day hearing, the independent club financial review panel concluded the club’s losses “did exceed the upper loss threshold” and recommended a two-point sanction.
Albion now need at least one point from their remaining fixtures to guarantee survival. They host promotion-chasing Ipswich Town on Saturday before travelling to already relegated Sheffield Wednesday on the final day.
The Midlands club have two weeks to lodge an appeal. If they proceed, a verdict could take up to 28 days.
In a statement released on Friday, Albion insisted they still believe they complied with the rules.
“The club disagrees with the CFRP’s findings and remains of the view that it has fully complied with the profitability and sustainability rules,” the statement read.
“The decision does not state the amount by which the club is said to have exceeded the upper loss threshold.
“West Bromwich Albion has not been informed of the quantum of the breach, save that this is less than £2million.
“This is therefore the smallest ever breach of the P&S rules across the EFL Championship and the Premier League.”
Albion added they are weighing their appeal options but stressed their immediate focus is football matters, saying: “For now, we will settle this on the pitch.”
NOP NIGERIA reports that the punishment makes West Brom the third second-tier club sanctioned this season. Leicester City and Sheffield Wednesday have both suffered points deductions and were relegated earlier in the campaign.
Despite Albion’s setback, Oxford United remain favourites to fill the final relegation place. The U’s sit six points from safety and must win both remaining matches while hoping either West Brom or Charlton Athletic lose both of theirs.
