Derby County have accepted a suspended 3-point deduction while Sheffield Wednesday have accepted a suspended 6-points deduction.

The EFL has sanctioned both clubs for failure to pay their players.

Derby’s punishment will be activated if the club fail to pay their players before June 30, 2022.

Sheffield Wednesday’s sanction will be implemented if the club do not pay in full the arrears owed to the players on or before July 5, 2021 and/or they fail to pay their players before June 30, 2022.

If Wednesday pay its players up until December 31, 2021, the sanction will be reduced to a suspended 3-point deduction.

What has been said?
The decision for Derby read: “A suspended 3-point deduction to be immediately activated in the event that the Club breaches Regulation 63.7 (failure to adhere to the terms and conditions of an employment contract) on or before 30 June 2022.”

As for Sheffield Wednesday, the statement read: “1. A suspended 6-point deduction to be immediately activated in the event that:

i. the Club fails to ensure that all arrears currently owed to the Club’s Players are paid in full on or before the 5 July 2021; and/or

ii. the Club breaches Regulation 63.7 (failure to adhere to terms and conditions of an employment contract) on or before 30 June 2022

“Provided that the Club has not (whether by act or omission, intentionally or otherwise) failed to pay its Players again on or before 31 December 2021, from 1 January 2022 the sanction will be reduced from a suspended 6-point sanction to a suspended 3-point deduction which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall be immediately activated in the event that the Club breaches Regulation 63.7 on or before 30 June 2022.”

Why have they agreed to a punishment?
In December 2020, Derby County failed to pay their players according to the agreement between the club and its players.

Sheffield Wednesday, meanwhile, failed to pay their players in March 2021, April 2021, May 2021 and June 2021.

Both clubs were consequently charged with misconduct under the EFL regulations.