West Brom fans seek EFL clarity on PSR charge

TL;DR

West Brom's Independent Supporters’ Trust wrote to the EFL seeking clarity on the club's alleged PSR breach charge.
The charge involves a minor exceedance over £41.5m three-year loss limit, linked to £5m interest on £28m historical loans.
A points deduction could threaten Albion's Championship survival with few games left.

The story at a glance

West Bromwich Albion's Independent Supporters’ Trust contacted the EFL for answers on the club's recent financial charge under Profit and Sustainability Regulations (PSR). The group, separate from other fan bodies, acted after this week's reports amid Albion's relegation fight. The charge stems from the three-year period ending 2024/25, with a hearing expected by late April.[[1]](https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/west-bromwich-albion/west-brom-fan-group-efl-request-financial-charge-6577077)[[2]](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7193535/2026/04/13/west-brom-efl-financial-rules-breach)

Key points

Albion faces an EFL charge from the Club Financial Reporting Unit (CFRU) over suspected PSR non-compliance, believed minor and tied to £5m interest on £28m loans from MSD Holdings taken under ex-owner Guochuan Lai.
Permitted losses are £41.5m over three seasons; club lawyers will attend a hearing within 28 days of the CFRU report, likely by end-April.
EFL rules require any sanctions, like points deductions, to apply in the season after the breach—meaning this term for Albion.
Club insists it complied fully with PSR, plans to fight the charge, and prioritises remaining games; owner Shilen Patel aims to repay loans by December.
Fan trust's statement: “We have written to the EFL on behalf of our members and Albion supporters to request clarity on the alleged PSR breach by the club. We'll update on our channels in due course.”
EFL processes for financial discipline are “strictly private and confidential”; no official response yet to fans or club.

Details and context

The loans funded operations late in Lai’s troubled ownership; Albion argues the £5m interest belongs to owners Bilkul, not club accounts.[[1]](https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/west-bromwich-albion/west-brom-fan-group-efl-request-financial-charge-6577077)

A points penalty could drop Albion into the drop zone—they sit two points above third-bottom with four games remaining—echoing past cases where late sanctions shook relegation battles.[[3]](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2026/04/13/west-brom-face-points-deduction-championship-relegation)[[4]](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/west-brom-efl-charge-deduction-37006199)

The trust, formed last November, operates independently from the Albion Assembly and Fan Advisory Board.

Key quotes

“We have written to the EFL on behalf of our members and Albion supporters to request clarity on the alleged PSR breach by the club. We'll update on our channels in due course.” — Albion Independent Supporters’ Trust statement.[[1]](https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/west-bromwich-albion/west-brom-fan-group-efl-request-financial-charge-6577077)

Why it matters

Potential sanctions test EFL rule enforcement during high-stakes survival fights, raising questions on timing and transparency. Fans and the club face uncertainty that could alter the Championship table late on, affecting survival and next season's planning. Watch the hearing outcome and any EFL reply to fans, though details stay confidential under league guidelines.

LANG: en