EFL: Wigan Athletic’s 12-point administration deduction kicks in at Fulham final whistle but it is not the end

Hong Kong-owned club will stay in the Championship anyway if they beat Fulham and neither Charlton nor Luton win on Wednesday night

Administrators have appealed points deduction but success could complicate matters further depending on final standings

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The scoreboard at the end of the EFL Championship match between Wigan Athletic and Hull City at DW Stadium. Photo: DPA

Published: 12:08pm, 21 Jul 2020Updated: 9:38pm, 21 Jul 2020

The English Football League has confirmed that it will impose a 12-point penalty on Hong Kong-owned Wigan Athletic at the final whistle of the last Championship match of the season on Wednesday.

“In the specific case of Wednesday evening’s final round of Championship matches for season 2019-20, and any potential impact on divisional standings, relegation will be confirmed for the clubs in 22nd, 23rd and 24th positions in the Championship table following the conclusion of those matches and will be subject to the resolution of any ongoing proceedings,” the EFL said in statement on Monday.

“In the case of Wigan Athletic, the 12-point sporting sanction as a result of the club entering administration will apply immediately following the end of the game against Fulham but is subject to appeal.”

Wigan’s administrators announced they would appeal. The club went into administration just weeks after a takeover by Hong Kong’s Next Leader Fund, which had bought the club from another Hong Kong company, International Entertainment Corporation.

Both the EFL and Hong Kong stock exchange approved the deal, with NLF taking formal control on June 4. Just 20 days later NLF’s UK lawyers put administration in process and it was confirmed on July 1.

Once the club announced it was in the hands of administrators the EFL imposed its mandatory 12-point deduction. Despite that hanging over their heads Wigan sit 13th on the 24-team table, 10 points above the relegation zone.