Birmingham City deducted nine points for breaching Football League spending rules

This will throw the club right into the Championship relegation battle

The Football League have taken action against Birmingham City for breaching profitability and sustainability rules by docking the Midlands club nine points. Following an Independent Disciplinary Commission meeting on Monday, their punishment was reported by several outlets on Thursday, dropping Garry Monk's side from 13th to 18th in the Championship - just five points above the relegation zone. Football League teams are only allowed to lose £13 million over a three-year period and Birmingham's most recent accounts revealed a £37.5 million loss for the year ending June 2018. The Blues have endured financial difficulties for some time with previous owner Carson Yeung resigning in 2014 shortly before a conviction for fraud in Hong Kong. Exactly who earned the club in the subsequent period was a matter of much concern for football's authorities. Chinese businessman Paul Suen Cho Hung eventually took charge through his company Trillion Trophy Asia and levels of spending have remained out of hand. Last year, their wage bill rose from £22m to £38m and the Football League placed them under a transfer embargo as a result before being lifted in September. The maximum punishment for breaching profitability and sustainability rules is 21 points.