Leicester City could be hit with bigger points deduction than Nottingham Forest

Leicester City could be hit with a stiffer punishment than the four-point penalty handed out to Nottingham Forest if an independent commission sees their failure to submit their accounts on time as a lack of co-operation.

The Premier League has charged Leicester City over an alleged breach of the league's Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

Leicester - currently second in the Sky Bet Championship on goal difference, but with a game in hand on leaders Leeds - could face a bigger points deduction than Forest, but not this season, if found to have broken the financial regulations.

However, Leicester could argue that - as a Championship club - the Premier League doesn't have any jurisdiction to require prior sight of those club accounts.

Forest were originally facing a six-point deduction for breaching profit and sustainability rules, but that was reduced by two points as a result of what the independent commission said was Forest "admitting the breach at the first opportunity" and co-operating in its full provision of documents.

The Premier League charge levelled at Leicester on Thursday included mention of the club's "failure to submit their audited accounts to the League", and whilst that in itself is not enough to warrant a separate charge, it could be seen as an aggravating factor when the commission decides what, if any, punishment is due.

Unlike the recent points-deduction cases involving Forest and Everton, where an independent commission hearing was required to hear the case within 12 weeks of a charge being levelled, there is no set timescale for Leicester's hearing to happen.

The administrator who organises the independent commission hearing will now contact both Leicester and the Premier League to find a