Leeds United send FFP message to Premier League after Leicester City charge

Leeds United send FFP message to Premier League after Leicester City charge
Leeds have indicated that they felt forced to sell two star players in the summer prior to their relegation thanks to Premier League spending rules.

Leeds United were relegated from the Premier League alongside Leicester last year

Leeds United were relegated from the Premier League alongside Leicester last year

Leeds United have appeared to take a swipe at the Premier League, inferring that its Profit and Sustainability Rules forced them to sell key players in the summer before their relegation.

This comes after Leicester City were charged in March for allegedly exceeding the £105m cash-loss limit during their previous three years in the top-flight. It means City face a possible points deduction if promoted and found guilty of the allegations.

Former Premier League champions Leicester lost the likes of James Maddison and Harvey Barnes last summer following their relegation but Leeds have suggested that they were forced to sell two of their star players a year earlier while still in the Premier League due to its finance rules.

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The Championship promotion hopefuls have pointed to their sales of Kalvin Phillips to Manchester City for £43m and Raphinha to Barcelona for £55m, insinuating that they were forced to sell the duo to avoid a penalty.

Filing its strategic report to Companies House, Leeds United FC said: “After narrowly securing a third successive season of Premier League football on the final day of the 2021/22 campaign, Leeds United began the new season with optimism that the club could recapture its trajectory towards becoming an established top-flight side.

“However, the club knew that this was still a significant challenge in continuing to evolve the quality of the squad from its Championship origins, whilst prudently managing the club’s finances within league Profit and Sustainability rules.

“Accordingly, the summer saw the transfers of Leeds United Academy developed England international Kalvin Phillips and Brazilian winger Raphinha.”

The Premier League is set to review its spending rules this summer, amid fears that non ‘big six’ clubs are being punished for trying to cut the gap.

It’s expected that wide-scale changes will be made, although sporting sanctions – such as transfer embargos and points deductions – will likely still be included. Leicester’s case would still stand regardless of any rules changes.