Wigan Athletic to kick off next season four points adrift after latest EFL punishment
Wigan Athletic FC will begin its League One campaign next season with a four-point deficit after punishment by the English Football League (EFL) for failing to pay its players’ wages on time, and further to previous breaches of EFL Regulations.
The side, which was relegated after finishing bottom of the Championship this season with 42 points, has also been docked a further three points for the late payment of players’ wages in March 2023, meaning the Latics finish the season on 39 points.
As part of the EFL’s punishment, Wigan has also received an additional four-point deduction for season 2023/24, which will be suspended until 30 June 2024.
That sanction will come into effect if the club’s owner, Abdulrahman Al Jasmi, fails to deposit an amount equal to 125% of the club’s forecast monthly wage bill in a designated club account, by Wednesday May 24, 2023.
The suspended deduction will also be activated if the club fails to pay its players on time between now and the end of June 2024.
Mr Al Jasmi has also been charged by the EFL with misconduct and fined £10,000 for failing to comply with the terms of an agreed decision reached between the EFL and the club in January this year.
Both Mr Al Jasmi and the club have accepted the sanctions, which have been ratified by an independent disciplinary commission, and have agreed to pay all associated costs.
In January, the club was charged with misconduct after it paid its players late on three occasions in June, July and October 2022. Accordingly, it was sanctioned with a suspended three-point deduction and entered an agreed decision with the League.
The suspended sanction was activated in March when the club failed to meet its contractual obligations with its players and breached the terms of the agreed decision when Mr Al Jasmi failed to deposit 125% of the club’s forecast of its monthly wage bill into a designated account.
A club statement said: “Wigan Athletic accepts the sanctions from the EFL and intend to fully comply with the conditions.
“A detailed statement will be made public once owner, Mr Abdulrahman Al Jasmi adheres to the terms of the agreed decision and deposits an amount equal to 125% of the club’s forecast monthly wage bill.”
Wigan entered administration on July 1, 2020, less than a month after being transferred to new ownership following the sale of the majority shareholdings of the Wigan Athletic Group from International Entertainment Corporation (IEC) to Hong Kong-based Next Leader Fund LP.
A takeover deal was finalised on March 30 2021, when administrator Begbies Traynor confirmed that Middle East group Phoenix 2021 Limited was the new owner of the side.
