Leeds United consider Leicester City legal action after recent £35m judgement — YEP 17/6/26

By Kyle Newbould

Leeds United could pursue legal action following a surprise Everton judgement.

Leeds United are considering legal action against a former Championship promotion rival in the wake of a shock recent judgement.

Leicester City pipped Leeds to automatic promotion in the 2023/24 campaign, Daniel Farke’s first in charge at Elland Road. Under Enzo Maresca, the Foxes finished top of the Championship with Leeds falling short of them and Ipswich Town despite racking up an impressive 90 points.

The Whites went on to lose the play-off final against Southampton. In February, Leicester were docked six points by the EFL after being found guilty of breaching Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) in the three years up to 2023/24. That deduction eventually played a role in their relegation to League One.

Leeds could now take action of their own after learning of the outcome in a similar case. The YEP understands a Times report suggesting the club are considering legal options is accurate.

Elland Road chiefs reached an out-of-court settlement with Everton last year after finishing a place below the Toffees in 2021/22 - a season in which they were later charged for breaching PSR. Burnley were relegated that year and continued to pursue legal routes, rather than reach a settlement.

Last week, a Premier League commission ordered Everton to pay over £35million in damages to the Clarets, who have since been promoted and instantly relegated again. The panel adjudged the Toffees’ breach to have materially impacted Burnley’s chances of survival.

Everton said the shock decision set a ‘dangerous and unworkable precedent’, with the expectation being other clubs would reflect on historical breaches and consider if they are due compensation. Leeds have done that and could take Leicester to court.

Should it be pursued via the Premier League’s independent disciplinary commission, Leicester’s breach would need to be seen on the balance of probabilities to have impacted Leeds’ promotion hopes. The Foxes finished seven points above Farke’s side and lost both home and away that season.