Leicester launch 'urgent legal proceedings' against the Premier League and EFL

Leicester have launched ‘urgent legal proceedings’ against the Premier League and EFL in the ongoing row over their alleged breach of spending rules.

The Championship club, who won the Premier League title only eight years ago, have been placed under transfer embargo by the EFL under profitability and sustainability regulations (PSR) – which Leicester argue ‘is both restrictive and premature’.

On Wednesday Leicester were charged by the Premier League for breaking the top flight’s spending rules, which allow clubs to lose no more than £105million over a three-year period. They are on course for promotion this season but their survival bid could be hampered by a significant points deduction, though it is highly unlikely that any points penalty could be imposed this term.

The transfer embargo has no practical effect at this stage of the season as the window is closed but Leicester are furious at the EFL’s move.

Their statement read: ‘LCFC has been compelled today to issue two urgent legal proceedings against the Premier League and the EFL. LCFC will be seeking that each of these proceedings is determined by an appropriate and fully independent legal panel.

‘The Club is committed to ensure that any charges against it are properly and proportionately determined, in accordance with the applicable rules, by the right bodies, and at the right time.

‘We reaffirm the Club’s position that we will continue to fight for the right of Leicester City and all clubs to pursue their ambitions, particularly where these have been reasonably and fairly established through sustained sporting achievement.

‘The Club further notes that at 4pm today the EFL will be issuing a public notification that LCFC has been placed under a registration embargo