EFL decision has huge implications for Birmingham City, QPR, Wigan Athletic and Blackpool

Reading have been thrown into the Championship relegation battle after immediately being docked six points by the Football League. The Royals, who are now just one point above the bottom three, face the punishment for a breach of budget restrictions in late 2021.

This decision comes as a huge boost for Birmingham City as there is now yet another club in a far worse position ahead of the rest of the season. Blues’ three wins in their last four have all but confirmed their Championship status for next campaign anyway, but Reading heading into the mix improves their odds further.

More of an impact will be felt for other teams in the battle, however, with the likes of Wigan Athletic, Blackpool, Huddersfield Town, Cardiff City, Rotherham United and Queens Park Rangers all on 42 points or fewer. Birmingham, for comparison, are now on 48, nine clear of the drop.

Director of the independent Club Financial Reporting Unit, John Potterill-Tilney said: “I would like to thank the Club for its transparency and cooperation during this process and the Club Financial Review Panel for helping us deliver an agreed sanction in just over one month since submissions were provided.

“This Decision and sanction, as confirmed by the Club Financial Review Panel in a short time frame, within the relevant season, will now give the Club clarity to plan for the period ahead, on and off the pitch. The EFL’s regulations establish the CFRP as an independent panel with the responsibility of reviewing the financial performance of EFL Clubs.

“This decision, the first of the Panel under the new Regulations, confirms its determination that Reading FC breached the terms of an earlier Agreed Decision, and the approval of the sanctions that follow from those breaches.”