West Bromwich Albion has been hit with a two-point deduction by the English Football League (EFL) for breaching profitability and sustainability rules. This sanction has seen the club drop from 18th to 20th place in the Championship, leaving them six points clear of relegation with only two games remaining in the season. The decision was made by the EFL’s independent Club Financial Review Panel, confirming Leicester City’s relegation to League One. West Brom now needs just one point from their final two matches against Ipswich Town and Sheffield Wednesday to secure their place in the league for next season.

The club has publicly disputed the EFL's findings, stating that they believe they have complied with the Profitability and Sustainability (P&S) Rules. West Bromwich Albion has not been informed of the exact amount of the breach, which is reported to be less than £2 million, marking it as the smallest breach in the history of the EFL Championship and Premier League. The club's statement highlighted that the breach arose from a change in the EFL’s approach to Community Development Expenditure, which affected their financial calculations.

In the three-season period ending last summer, West Brom lost £64 million, exceeding the permitted loss threshold by £22.5 million. However, the EFL allows deductions for spending on academies and community projects, which reduced West Brom's breach to under £2 million. According to the EFL's sanctioning guidelines, this size of breach typically results in a three-point deduction, but West Brom received a further point reduction due to their improved financial performance in the current season.

Despite the deduction, West Bromwich Albion remains focused on their remaining fixtures, needing to secure at least one point to avoid relegation. The club is currently considering its options for an appeal against the decision, although it appears unlikely they will pursue this unless they are overtaken in the standings by Oxford United. The club has expressed its intention to settle the matter on the pitch as they aim for survival in the Championship.