Leicester fight financial fair play fine

Leicester City are fighting against the imposition of a fine of around £10m for breaches of financial fair play (FFP) regulations.

The situation is complicated but they are facing action based on reported losses of £20.8m for the 2013-14 season, plus further £11m from a controversial sponsorship deal.   It has echoes of FFP sanctions imposed on Paris Saint-Germain by Uefa two years ago.

Leicester City are fighting against the imposition of a fine of around £10m for breaches of financial fair play (FFP) regulations.

The situation is complicated but they are facing action based on reported losses of £20.8m for the 2013-14 season, plus further £11m from a controversial sponsorship deal.   It has echoes of FFP sanctions imposed on Paris Saint-Germain by Uefa two years ago.

Leicester’s accounts show that the King Power sponsorship deals, involving the company of Thai owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, jumped from £5m to £16m in 2013-14.   They had been concluded with the owner through an intermediary called Trestellar Ltd.

The Football League maintains that this was a case of an owner trying to reduce losses on paoer by injecting more money into the club via sponsorship deals that were above market value.   PSG’s attempt to do something similar via their owner, Qatar Sports Investment, was ruled in breach of FFP rules by Uefa.