Wigan Athletic relegated to League One after losing appeal against 12-point deduction

Wigan Athletic have been relegated to League One after they lost their appeal against a 12-point deduction for entering administration.
David Marshall of Wigan Athletic looks dejected after the Sky Bet Championship match between Wigan Athletic and Fulham.David Marshall of Wigan Athletic looks dejected after the Sky Bet Championship match between Wigan Athletic and Fulham.
David Marshall of Wigan Athletic looks dejected after the Sky Bet Championship match between Wigan Athletic and Fulham.

Wigan join Charlton Athletic and Hull City in the third tier for the 2020-21 campaign after today’s decision by an independent arbitration panel.

An EFL statement read: "An independent Arbitration panel has ruled that Wigan Athletic’s 12-point deduction for entering administration last month will stand after dismissing the club’s appeal against the sporting sanction.

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“The insolvency event occurred on the 1 July 2020 and under EFL Regulation 12.3, the club was subject to a 12-point sanction; yet the timing of the deduction could only be determined once the final games of the season had been played.

“The reason for this approach was due to the administration taking place after the fourth Thursday in March. In such circumstances EFL Regulations state that, in the event a club is relegated by virtue of their final position following the conclusion of the league campaign, then the deduction would apply in the following season.

“As the club was not in the relegation places following the last round of Championship fixtures, the sanction was then applied to their 2019/20 total which resulted in a 23rd placed finish.”

They added the decision of the arbitration panel is final and legally binding.

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A statement by the administrators added: “The club put forward a strong case and naturally we are disappointed at the decision.

“The first team management will now prepare the team for next season’s Sky Bet League One campaign."