“They harmed the trust we had in the Premier League” — Forest

Nottingham Forest has expressed deep disappointment and dismay following the decision by the Premier League to dock them four points for breaching profit and sustainability rules.

The penalty, imposed after an independent commission found the club’s losses in the 2022-23 season exceeded the threshold by £34.5 million, immediately plunges Forest into the relegation zone, just one point adrift of safety.

This development marks the second time a Premier League club has faced consequences for breaching PSR regulations, with Everton having been deducted 10 points in November, later reduced to six on appeal.

In response to the punishment, Nottingham Forest issued a lengthy statement expressing their discontent.

“We were extremely dismayed by the tone and content of the Premier League’s submissions before the Commission.

“After months of engagement with the Premier League, and exceptional cooperation throughout, this was unexpected and has harmed the trust and confidence we had in the Premier League.

They thanked the commission for expediting the process but criticized the way the Premier League handled the situation, describing the league’s submissions before the commission as unexpected and damaging to trust and confidence.

Nottingham Forest argued that the Premier League’s proposed eight-point deduction was disproportionate and highlighted their cooperation throughout the process, which led to a reduction in the penalty from six points to four.

The club also contested the Premier League’s failure to consider their unique circumstances and mitigation efforts, emphasizing their responsible approach to balancing compliance with investment in the squad.