Nottingham Forest’s four-point Premier League deduction will remain after they failed in their appeal against the penalty for a Profit & Sustainability Rules (PSR) breach.
Forest were dealt the deduction back in March and avoided a six-point penalty having cooperated with the Premier League over the £34.5m breach. However, they sought to appeal being docked four points regardless.
But The Athletic report an independent commission has rejected their appeal and they remain in a relegation battle heading into the final two weeks of the season.
The outcome of this appeal means Forest could still be relegated to the Championship, sitting only three points above 18th-place Luton Town and five ahead of 19th-place Burnley.
Forest can, however, secure safety this weekend. If Luton and Burnley both fail to win in their respective 3pm games – the Hatters travel to West Ham United while the Clarets head to Tottenham Hotspur – then the Reds will maintain their Premier League status with only a point at home to Chelsea in the late kick-off.
On the final day of the season, Forest travel to Burnley in what could yet prove to be a relegation play-off, while Luton host Fulham.
Forest are not the only team to have received points deductions for PSR breaches this season. Everton had an initial ten-point penalty reduced to six on appeal before receiving a further two-point deduction, though this second charge is subject to another appeal. Nevertheless, they are no longer in risk of relegation.
