Credit: Imago

Declan Carr

Mon 13 April 2026 10:19, UK Updated Mon 13 April 2026 10:50, UK

West Bromwich Albion could be hit with a points deduction after a PSR charge was confirmed for the 2024-25 season.

The Baggies have been skirting the line when it comes to Profit and Sustainability rules in recent years due to the fallout from the Guochuan Lai era.

A report from The Telegraph’s John Percy on 13 April claimed that the Black Country club have been charged with an alleged breach.

It states that a Championship points deduction is very possible, with English Football League guidelines asserting that the punishment must be applied in the season after the offence.

That would be disastrous, as it would surely see West Brom on the brink of relegation, through no fault of the players on the pitch.

West Brom’s PSR breach could have a devastating impact

West Brom are trying to delay the punishment, according to the bombshell report, hoping that it would be for the 2026-27 campaign instead.

It states that the amount of the Baggies’ breach is not thought to be significant, with the number being narrowly above the allowed loss limits.

However, a points deduction, fine and transfer bans are all listed as potential sanctions for the breach.

How could it affect relegation chances?

Well that depends very much on the punishment and if it is implemented this season or not.

For argument’s sake, if it is put in place for the current campaign and it is a points deduction, it could be similar to the six points that Leicester were deducted in February, which they failed to reduce in an appeal last week.

That would leave the Baggies in the relegation zone, in 23rd place, with 40 points, below Leicester and Oxford United, who currently sit in the drop zone.

There are four matches left, and Albion would likely have to win all of them to have any chance of survival if the punishment is handed out before the end of the season.

They face Preston, Watford, Ipswich Town and Sheffield Wednesday in their final matches.

It would be a very hard ask for James Morrison and his charges, but the Throstles have done the impossible escape before, albeit in very different circumstances in the 2004-05 season.