How many points could Forest be deducted and where would that put them in Premier League table? Tricky Trees break Profit and Sustainability rules

Nottingham Forest face a potentially hefty points deduction that could leave them in the relegation zone after they were found guilty of breaking financial rules.

The Premier League confirmed they found the Tricky Trees to have breached their Profit and Sustainability rules from the 2020/21 season to the 2022/23 campaign.

Under the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability rules, teams aren't allowed to lose more than £105million over a three-year period.

However, sides who have spent any time in the EFL in that period are under stricter rules, meaning they have to be even tighter with the purse strings.

Since their promotion from the Championship in 2022, Forest have spent close to £250m on 43 players, including over £160m nearly two years ago.

In that period, they only made around £5m from sales.

They did sell Brennan Johnson to Tottenham last summer for close to £50m, but that sale can't be included in these accounts and will be in the next three-year cycle.

And now, the club face a heavy points deduction.

How many points could Nottingham Forest be deducted?

In theory, Forest can be deducted an infinite amount of points.

It all depends on how serious the Independent Commission deems the offence to be.

However, we do have some basis for what could happen.

Everton have already been deducted ten points for breaching the Profit and Sustainability rules once during an earlier period.

So, if it is to be a points deduction for Forest, that seems the most likely outcome.

In a statement released on the club's website, Forest confirmed they hope to find a resolution to this situation.

"Nottingham Forest acknowledges the statement from the Premier League confirming that the club has today been charged with a breach of the league’s profitability and Sustainability Rules.

"The club intends to continue to cooperate fully with the Premier League on this matter and are confident of a speedy and fair resolution."

Any points deduction for Forest could be horrible, but the fact their fate rests entirely with an Independent Commission is pretty frightening.

In their statement, the Premier League confirmed that Everton have also breached profit and sustainability rules again, and they also revealed a few more details about the process Forest now face.

"Everton FC and Nottingham Forest FC have each confirmed to the Premier League that they are in breach of the League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR). This is as a result of sustaining losses above the permitted thresholds for the assessment period ending Season 2022/23.

"In accordance with Premier League Rules, both cases have now been referred to the chair of the Judicial Panel, who will appoint separate Commissions to determine the appropriate sanction.

"Commissions are independent of the Premier League and member clubs. The proceedings are heard in private with the Commissions’ final decisions made public on the Premier League’s website. The League will make no further comment until that time."

Where would a points deduction leave Forest?

Well, if Forest are deducted ten points, they will drop from 15th to 19th and find themselves in a relegation dogfight.

It would cut the their points tally in half from 20 to ten, leaving Nuno Espirito Santo and co in a difficult situation.

Of course, the Independent Commission might decide something different, which could be worse or better.

But if they receive the same punishment as Everton, Forest's Premier League status would be under serious threat.