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Reds fail to overturn original decision

Luton Town’s relegation rivals Nottingham Forest have been unsuccessful in their appeal against the Premier League points deduction handed out to them according to reports in the Athletic.

The Reds were docked four points by an independent commission back in March after breaching profit and sustainability rules, having admitted they overspent by £34.5m during a three year period. Forest could have received a six-point penalty, but were given a lesser punishment by the Premier League due their ‘early plea’ and ‘excellent co-operation.’

The City Ground club appealed the decision, with the hearing taking place last month, but the results today upheld the original ruling, which means that Forest, who beat Sheffield United 3-1 on Saturday, remain 17th in the table, three points clear of the Hatters with two matches remaining.

Luke Berry scores a last-gasp equaliser against Nottingham Forest recently - pic: Liam Smith

A statement from the Premier League said: “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.”

Luton still have a slight chance of overtaking their rivals if they can get a result at West Ham United this weekend, and the Reds lose or draw at home to Chelsea. That would then take the relegation race down to the final day, as Town host Fulham at Kenilworth Road, with Forest travelling to Burnley, the Clarets still in with a glimmer of hope of avoiding the drop themselves should they emerge triumphant at Spurs on Saturday.

Luton's relegation rivals Nottingham Forest lose their appeal against points deduction