EFL rules, sanctions & embargos are unfair?

I'm already getting Derby fans at work moaning at me saying they weren't allowed to sign players whilst under embargo and punishment so why are we allowed to sign Cooper and Redmond. 

Whichever way you look at it there will always be those who find an argument for and against. The rules (whether fans agree with them or not) are signed off at club level in the EFL so no point in playing up now. We just have to suck it up and hope a brighter future is just around the corner.

8 hours ago, Jack of Clubs said:

I'm already getting Derby fans at work moaning at me saying they weren't allowed to sign players whilst under embargo and punishment so why are we allowed to sign Cooper and Redmond. 

 

Whichever way you look at it there will always be those who find an argument for and against. The rules (whether fans agree with them or not) are signed off at club level in the EFL so no point in playing up now. We just have to suck it up and hope a brighter future is just around the corner.

Derby's situation was actually different though, and for a number of reasons.

The main reason is that Derby were in an Agreed Decision with the EFL, which explicitly forbade any signings, so they had no recourse to appeal to the EFL for dispensation.

That is reason enough why Derby couldn't sign anyone, but in any case they always had enough players that met the status of ‘permitted player’, so even without the Agreed Decision, they probably wouldn't have been given dispensation (except an emergency keeper, presumably).

We're not in an Agreed Decision though, and furthermore, it seems we've been able to successfully argue that we lacked enough players that meet the ‘permitted player’ criteria; although the upcoming AFCON was probably the clincher here.

Going forward though, I do expect the restrictions to be lifted, as they usually are once new owners are in place and the EFL are satisfied. So there's not likely that much for us to fret over here.

As for the points reductions that the petition linked to in the OP is also wanting to see overturned, I really don't think that is ever going to happen; certainly not now it's already been done, so that would seem quite futile to me anyway.

On 27/11/2025 at 22:44, Inspector Lestrade said:

 

Yep, I quite agree.  Something needs to be done.  I wonder if there is anything in the new football bill. 

I doubt it, not yet anyway. Needs a nice scandal before it happens.