While West Brom may have mathematically guaranteed Championship safety, off-field troubles might push the club back into the relegation zone.

The Baggies’ 3-0 win over Watford in Wednesday extended their unbeaten streak under interim manager James Morrison to nine games, leaving them eight points clear of the dropzone with only two games remaining at the time of writing.

However, it might be lowered by a potential points deduction, according to The Telegraph’s John Percy, who reported that the Black Country team had been charged by the EFL with violating profit and sustainability standards during the 2024–25 season.

West Brom have subsequently stated that they have fully followed with the guidelines and have not committed any violations, with a hearing scheduled for later this month to resolve the matter.

Of course, everyone involved will be anxious over the outcome, as the club is unsure whether they can celebrate Championship survival just yet.

With this in mind, FLW compiles the most recent news on the saga at The Hawthorns.

Kieran Maguire files £1 million claim over West Brom, EFL breach.

According to football financial expert Kieran Maguire, West Brom’s infraction is expected to be minimal, with the club just exceeding the EFL’s threshold by approximately £1 million.

He feels this will result in a mild punishment, with them not losing as many points as Leicester City if proven guilty.

According to Maguire, “I did my calculations, and I don’t have intricate data, and I got the impression Albion were perhaps no more than £1 million over the limit.”Albion has cooperated with the EFL by adhering to a business plan.

However, if they exceed the limit, they must refer to a commission.”But there’s a separate issue in that we’re almost at the end of the season, and it’s not fair on Albion, and it’s not fair on the other clubs that are in the relegation dogfight too.”A: whether there will be a charge.

B: Whether they are innocent or guilty. C: Whether tariffs will be levied before the season ends.I believe that many of these unknowns are causing a great deal of stress and distress for clubs, fans, owners, and everyone involved.”

Stefan Borson calls EFL and West Brom’s accusation timing ‘ridiculous’.

Stefan Borson, a football finance expert, has also commented on West Brom’s financial problems, wondering why the EFL only sanctioned the club with a few weeks remaining in the Championship season, claiming that it has put the league in a ‘ridiculous’ situation.

He believes that a hasty resolution of this probe could lead to the Baggies refusing to accept any ruling, especially given how long it took to reach a decision in the Leicester City case, where the Foxes were deducted six points in February for a similar PSR violation.

“It’s just ridiculous,” Borson told Football Insider.

“You already know the issue with Leicester.

“I just don’t understand how it got to this point, and how they only now have access to this information.

“I’m sure the EFL is saying, ‘Well, let’s expedite the process so we can find out if you’ll be deducted points.'”

“Why would West Brom allow that? They do not have to.

“I’m sure they’ll say, ‘No, we required the appropriate time to prepare for the case to get submissions in, witness testimonies, and the availability of the right K.C.’, so they’ll try to delay it down.

“That’s only for the initial hearing.

“You then ask the panel to make a rapid decision and a swift penalty, both of which they are capable of.

“But again, West Brom may be entitled to say, ‘Well, there’s no reason why we should be asking them to accelerate everything beyond their ordinary position.”

Array of EFL punishments mentioned in the West Brom case.

While West Brom waits to learn the outcome of an alleged infraction, speculation has spread regarding the various forms of punishments that the EFL may impose.

According to Jordan Blackwell of the Leicester Mercury, the total number of points deducted increases depending on how much money is lost above the EFL’s threshold.

Of course, the disagreement, as reported by Sky Sports, involves approximately £5 million in interest payments to the club’s former owner Guochuan Lai.

According to the Leicester Mercury, if this lawsuit is based on a £5 million payment, West Brom can only have exceeded the loss limit by £5 million, however the actual sum could be lower.

According to the EFL’s sentencing standards, a £5 million infraction is worth a five-point deduction. A breach of £2m to £4m results in a four-point deduction, whereas a breach of less than £2m results in three points.

However, great cooperation and good behaviour might result in a reduced sentence in mitigation, so it is unknown how harsh the EFL will be if they discover a solid enough basis to declare the Baggies in breach of the rules.

Meanwhile, the Mirror reports that the EFL has two more alternatives aside from a points deduction.

It is understood that a transfer ban and a punishment are also on the table if the Baggies are found guilty and fail to appeal.

However, given that Leicester City, Sheffield Wednesday, Everton, and Nottingham Forest have all recently received points deductions in the Championship and Premier League, this is the most likely method that the EFL will choose to punish Albion.