The Professional Footballers' Association has begun legal action against the English Football League in a bid to block new financial controls in League One.
The trade union has filed a case with the High Court over a proposal to cut the amount a League One club can spend on wages from 60 per cent of revenue to 50 per cent. The move has triggered outrage within the EFL.
League One clubs lost an average of £7.3million last year, according to Daily Mail Sport, and the plan is aimed at reducing clubs' reliance on ownership funding. The PFA says the changes were not introduced in line with the required consultation and agreement process, and is claiming due process was not followed.
EFL responds to legal challenge
The EFL said in a statement that it was "concerned and disappointed" at the move, adding that the changes had been discussed at length ahead of their planned introduction, with PFA feedback taken on board. In 2021 the PFA successfully challenged the introduction of a salary cap, but the EFL believes the current proposal is not a major change and should not be judged the same way.
An EFL spokesperson said the PFA's decision to oppose the reforms and pursue legal action diverts limited resources and adds further cost to a game already under financial pressure. The spokesperson said League One clubs have made clear that change is needed, with costs rising, losses increasing and many clubs relying more heavily on owner funding to meet their commitments, adding that model is not sustainable for clubs, players or the wider game. The spokesperson said the approved changes are intended to support responsible financial management, encourage sensible squad planning and reduce the risk of clubs spending beyond their means, and said the move is not about undermining players' interests but about creating a stable environment for clubs to meet their obligations.
Birch defends reforms
EFL chief executive Trevor Birch said the reforms are designed to make clubs more sustainable, and that stable clubs are better placed to honour contracts, pay wages on time, invest in facilities and create long-term opportunities for players. Birch said a rising tide of losses and growing reliance on owner funding increase risk for everyone, and said that is why delaying reform is a risk, adding that clubs need rules that help them plan responsibly and avoid spending beyond their means.
Average losses in League One rose from £2.3million in 2021-22 to £7.3million last season. Many League One players are now paid in excess of £10,000 per week.
A PFA spokesperson said the union has begun High Court action against the EFL over new wage restriction rules adopted by clubs in League One and introduced this season, and said the process through which clubs voted to bring in the measures was not in line with the consultation and agreement process required by the Professional Football Negotiating and Consultative Committee, of which the EFL's membership, the PFA, the FA and the Premier League are part.
