League One sides could block Coventry City, Rotherham and Oxford United‘s promotion to the Championship with an injunction, a sports lawyer has said.
League One Sides Threaten Coventry City, Rotherham and Oxford United With Legal ‘Block’ To Stop Promotion
Injunction Would Stop Promotion and Relegation
Three clubs hoping of promotion to the Championship may have their aspirations dashed if their League One rivals seek a legal injunction.
Coventry City and Rotherham currently occupy the automatic promotion spots while Oxford United sit third in the standings.
Mark Robins’ Sky Blues had only lost three games in the league all season and seemed destined to finish in the top two when play was halted.
But, according to a sports lawyer, clubs could seek an injunction against the EFL in order to block promotion and relegation.
James Severn, an expert on sports law and partner at Penningtons Manches Cooper, said: “League One is really interesting with only three points between second and eighth.
“Any club missing out in such a scenario may consider a claim in damages or seek an injunction prohibiting the League from taking a decision to promote or relegate clubs.”
Next week EFL boss Rick Parry is expected to ask for League One and Two clubs to vote on a conclusion for the season.
A ‘weighted points per game’ (PPG) system is said to be the favoured option; however, it receives opposition from clubs set to miss out on a chance for promotion.
Peterborough United chairman Darragh MacAnthony has previously threatened a legal challenge on an “epic” scale if this is how the league’s promoted sides are decided.
The PPG table would use the average number of points won per home game this season and the average number won per away game.
These figures would then be applied to each home and away game left on a team’s fixture list.
Main Photo
