Leeds United ‘open legal proceedings’ against Leicester City amid £35m ruling | OneFootball

Leeds United have reportedly begun legal action against Leicester City after missing out on Championship promotion in 2023/24.

The Athletic reports that a statement of claim has been served on Leicester, setting out alleged losses and seeking an assessment of damages, with a hearing anticipated next summer.

Leicester pipped Leeds to promotion in Daniel Farke’s first season, winning the title under Enzo Maresca. Ipswich Town were second, Leeds finished third and lost the play-off final to Southampton, staying in the Championship.

It later emerged Leicester breached Profitability and Sustainability Rules during that period. In February they were deducted six points for a PSR breach across the three years up to 2023/24, a penalty that ultimately played a role in their relegation to League One.

Talk of Leeds pursuing redress surfaced in June after a shock ruling in a comparable case. A week earlier, a Premier League panel ordered Everton to pay £35m to Burnley after avoiding relegation at their expense in 2021/22, a season in which Everton breached PSR.

Leeds finished 17th that year, one place below Everton, who were later docked 10 points, reduced to six on appeal. Elland Road officials agreed an out-of-court settlement believed to be around £2m, broadly the extra revenue per league position.

Should the current claim go to the Premier League’s independent commission, Leicester’s breach would need to be judged, on the balance of probabilities, to have affected Leeds’ promotion prospects. The Foxes ended seven points ahead of Farke’s side and lost both meetings.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk