Credit: Imago

Richie Mills

Sat 25 April 2026 20:00, UK

West Bromwich Albion have received support from a West Midlands Mayor following their points deduction.

Just when it looked like West Brom were safe from relegation, the English Football League hit them with a two-point deduction for breaking profit and sustainability rules.

The Baggies were charged for exceeding the £41.5million loss limit for the three seasons up until 2024-25, something the West Midlands outfit denied.

However, an independent club financial review panel deemed that West Brom’s losses “did exceed the upper loss threshold” and James Morrison‘s side were docked two points on Friday.

The Baggies secured their Championship status with a point against Ipswich Town on Saturday but Mayor of the West Midlands, Richard Parker, thinks this financial situation is unfair for West Brom.

West Brom feel sense of injustice

One point of contention for West Brom – who have now gone more than eight hours without conceding a goal – is their charity partner, The Albion Foundation, and how that has been dealt with in this thorny topic.

A West Brom statement reads, “Proceedings were brought by the CFRU (Club Financial Reporting Unit) following a change in the CFRU’s approach to community development expenditure.

“In 2023-24, the CFRU accepted the club was entitled to include in-kind donations of the club’s facilities, staff time and resources to its official charity partner, The Albion Foundation, in its P&S calculation.

“Earlier this year, the CFRU informed the club that it had changed its approach and imposed a retrospective adjustment to the club’s P&S calculation. Without the CFRU changing its approach to the community development expenditure, the club would not have breached the P&S rules.”

On Saturday, Labour and Co-operative Party member Parker wrote on social media that he has offered West Brom his full support, while suggesting it shouldn’t be punished for its admirable community work.

He wrote on X: “This doesn’t sit right with me. Docking West Brom two points over money linked to its Foundation misses what clubs like this do in our communities.

“And changing the rule part way through the accounting period raises real questions. I’ll be taking this up with the EFL and the new regulator.”

In the end, it hasn’t meant a great deal as West Brom stayed up after a goalless draw at The Hawthorns on Saturday lunchtime.

That put them out of reach of 22nd-placed Oxford United, who went down despite thumping Sheffield Wednesday.

EFL contradiction pointed out

In the wake of West Brom’s points deduction, the club have considered appealing this verdict, even though they are already safe from relegation.

What is extra galling about this is that West Brom were named the EFL Championship Community Club of the year in 2024.

But as football finance expert Kieran Maguire pointed out, they are effectively being punished for how they have handled donations towards their club community scheme.

Many football fans point out that the Premier League or EFL will punish teams such as Leicester City or Sheffield Wednesday for their financial mismanagement.

But Chelsea have got off very lightly for their misdemeanours, while Manchester City are still waiting to find out the verdict for their 115 charges, many years after being charged.

Incidentally, West Brom round off their season against Sheffield Wednesday next Saturday.