The 10 Biggest Point Deductions In Football History (and What They Were For) Ranked

Play Silly Games, Expect A Deduction

Another points deduction has hit the footballing world as Leicester City were deducted 6 points for breaching Premier League financial rules. This now puts them just outside the Championship relegation zone as they are now fighting for survival.

Whilst the deduction was fair as they had broken the rules, Manchester City are still yet to be sanctioned for their 115 apparent charges after they had broken the rules for nearly a decade. Deductions can be cruel but they are necessary in ensuring clubs take the right measures in following the rules.

Some deductions though are bigger than others.

Leicester City after their points deduction are a genuine possiblity of relegation to League One

4 Years from a European Semi-Final to this, a masterclass is mismanagement

Some say Leicester's fall is simply victim of a club for showing ambition to challenge the Top 6 Elite,… pic.twitter.com/vLQAt1Ayu5

— 𝙇𝙞𝙖𝙢 (@OfficialVizeh) February 5, 2026

10 Leeds United - 15 points (2007/08)

Arguably one of the toughest starts to a season involve a bad transfer window or a relegation. However, Leeds United's season started with a 15-point deduction after failing to properly comply with insolvency procedures when exiting administration.

They were at risk from expulsion from the Football League entirely; however, clubs agreed a 15-point deduction was enough. Amazingly, they reached the play-offs and only narrowly missed out on promotion. It could have been one of the most impressive promotion stories to date.

9 - Bournemouth - 17 points (2008/09)

Bournemouth were hit with a huge 17-point deduction due to improper procedures when emerging from administration (quite the theme going on). Not only that, but it was a stab in an already-open wound, as they had been hit with a 10-point deduction the season before.

All looked to be lost for the Cherries until a Mr Eddie Howe came in and guided them to survival that season. Then comes the fairy-tale story to the Premier League.

8 - Rotherham United - 17 points (2008/09)

Like Bournemouth, Rotherham United began the 2008/09 season with a 17-point deduction after another instance of failing to meet the rules regarding how a club must exit administration.

They were able to rally together and finish steadily in mid-table in what is an impressive recovery considering the shambles taking part in the beginning of the season.

7 - Genoa - 18 points (1959/60)

Our first Italian side and a flashback to the 50s, Genoa were given an 18-point deduction for match-fixing offences which were common at the time.

They were also handed a 7-point ban the season after for their cheating antics, which put them under some negative scrutiny for some time. Luckily the cheating has now stopped, but the deduction is forever in the history books.

6 - Arminia Bielefeld - 19 points (1971/72)

Another match-fixing scandal, another ban. Arminia Bielefeld received a 19-point deduction for their participation in a match-fixing scandal involving an array of players.

Both players and officials openly admitted to accepting bribes to manipulate match outcomes. This played into Bielefeld's eventual relegation, although the team was so poor that they would've been relegated without the deduction.

2009: Relegated from the Bundesliga
2011: Relegated to the 3. Liga
2013: Promoted to the 2. Bundesliga
2014: Relegated to the 3. Liga
2015: Promoted to the 2. Bundesliga
2017: On the brink of bankruptcy
2020: Back in the Bundesliga!

Arminia Bielefeld are relentless! 💙#DSCFCH pic.twitter.com/pML1EAlErS

— DW Sports (@dw_sports) June 28, 2020

5 - Derby County - 21 points (2021/22)

Back to England and a very recent case where Derby County were deducted 21 points, but this time, for two separate issues.

The first 12 were for entering administration, and another 9 points were added for breaches of financial accounting rules.

Manager Wayne Rooney and his side fought valiantly to survive the relegation battle, even pushing it into the final weeks of the season. However, the deduction meant that Derby were relegated into League One for the first time in decades.

Despite a 21 point deduction, Derby County have only lost 5 of their 19 league games this season, losing just 2 of their last 10 and taking 4 points from the top two (Bournemouth & Fulham) in their most recent fixtures.

Wayne Rooney deserves a lot of credit in my view. pic.twitter.com/iR3myowY01

— HLTCO (@HLTCO) November 25, 2021

4 - Lazio - 30 points (2005/06)

We are getting into the big leagues, as Lazio were handed a massive 30-point deduction due to involvement in the Calciopoli scandal.

Seen as one of the biggest scandals to date, major Italian clubs like Lazio were found to be bribing officials to give them favourable decisions. As you will see, Lazio weren't the main instigators of the conspiracy, but they still had a part to play and threw the club into turmoil.

3 - Fiorentina - 30 points (2005/06)

Like Lazio, a 30-point deduction was handed to Fiorentina for their involvement in the Calciopoli scandal involving bribing the officials.

The club was also kicked out of the Champions League, and their 4th-place finish became a mid-table one within moments.

2 - AC Milan - 30 points (2005/06)

Last but not least, AC Milan are the last of the trio to be handed a 30-point deduction, which ended up costing them the Serie A trophy that they fought so hard to win.

In fact, their arch-rivals Inter Milan came away scot-free and took the title for themselves. It went from bad to worse for AC Milan, yet they won a Champions League a season later.

1 - Luton Town - 30 points (2008/09)

It had to end with Luton Town and their record-breaking 30-point deduction as a result of a combination of financial misconduct and irregularities in how the club exited administration.

The repeated violations crumbled their season, resulting in relegation into League Two, unlike Leeds United, who did quite the opposite.

Luton Town found themselves in the Premier League over a decade later, which is some compensation, until you realise they are back in League One.

You think that's bad. Try getting a 30 point deduction which plunges you into non league for the first time in 100 years.... With no possibility of appeal. pic.twitter.com/zB2G6mYUFc

— g___r___a___n___t ⬜👒🟧 (@GrantTheHatter) February 6, 2026