Birmingham City supporters demand Financial Fair Play clarity

A Birmingham City supporters group has written an open letter to the EFL demanding clarity on the club’s Profitability & Sustainability position.

The Blues Trust have penned the letter to the League’s chief executive Shaun Harvey including questions about the upcoming disciplinary commission following the alleged breach of FFP rules.

Like every Blues supporter the Trust is alarmed at reports in national newspapers of 12-15 point deductions and the lack of EFL comment on the issue.

They have also expressed a widely held fear among Blues fans that the club are going to be made an example of.

Their letter, which can be found on the Blues Trust website, reads:

“Dear Mr Harvey

“Birmingham City supporters are confused and concerned about reports of possible points deductions in various newspapers.

“On September 7, the Telegraph reported that the club was facing a possible 12-point deduction and on September 20, the Times reported that the club was facing a 15-point deduction this season.

“On September 22, the Birmingham Mail reported your statement, which said.

“The EFL today presented to Championship Clubs the sporting sanction its Board would be seeking against any Club found to be in breach of its Profitability and Sustainability rules.”

“This included a points deduction with reductions available dependent on the level of the breach. Aggravating factors will also be taken into consideration, resulting in potential further punishment.”

“Any final sanction will remain a matter for an Independent Disciplinary Commission to determine, who have a full range of penalties available to them.”

“Clubs found to be in breach and referred to a Commission will be given the opportunity to put forward their case in mitigation.”

“Please will you answer the following questions:

“Your statement, quoted above, gives the impression that the sanction presented was a new tougher one and that you might apply it retrospectively. If the Disciplinary Commission decides to sanction Birmingham City FC, will it have the option to apply this new sanction this season?

“Who will be on the Disciplinary Commission?

“When do you expect the Disciplinary Commission to make a decision on a sanction for Birmingham City?

“What are the full range of penalties available to the Commission? Can some be deferred to a later season?”

The letter goes on to say:

“Many Birmingham City supporters feel that their club will probably receive a more severe punishment than other clubs that have broken the rules.

“We think that the EFL could help fans to understand its actions by providing a short summary of its Profitability and Sustainability rules and also listing on its website which clubs it is consulting with about a possible breach of the rules, which clubs have breached the rules, and sanctions awarded against clubs.

“It would be better for such matters to be made public by the EFL than appear as an exclusive in a newspaper.”

Blues are set to face a Disciplinary Commission for breaching the EFL’s P&S regulations, an offshoot of the Financial Fair Play rules, and are being viewed as a test case after allegations they will post losses in excess of the permitted £39m over three years.