Notttingham Forest have had their appeal against their four-point penalty for breaking Profitability and Sustainability Rules rejected.
After the club’s case was held on 24 April, an appeal board has upheld the original decision from the independent commission who imposed the points deduction.
Forest’s losses were found to have breached the threshold from the 2022-23 season of £61m by £34.5m.
The result of the appeal means Forest remain in 17th place in the Premier League, three points ahead of Luton Town, who occupy the third and final place in the relegation zone. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side moved three points clear of danger on Saturday after defeating already relegated Sheffield United 3-1.
Forest initially dropped into the relegation zone when their points deduction was announce back in March, and Santo was confident after his side’s defeat to Manchester City last week that a resolution was just around the corner.
Usually the threshold for losses over a three season period is set at £105m, but due to Forest being in the Championship for two years, their maximum loss was limited to £61m. Their losses amounted to £95m after losing £3m across 2020 and 2021, £40m in 2022 and £52m in 2023, with their net spend last season amounting to £142.8m.
The initial deduction was six points but due to Forest’s “early plea” and “cooperation” they had their ban reduced to four points.