Cardiff City's lower-table rivals Reading have been plunged further into the Championship relegation battle after being hit by an immediate six-point deduction under the EFL's financial rules.
The Royals have dropped from 46 points to 40, leaving them just one point above Cardiff City and the drop zone as a result of the penalty. The Bluebirds, however, have one game in hand over the Royals owing to the postponed match against Rotherham United before the most recent international break.
The sanction relates to the Berkshire club's failure to meet an agreed budget following an earlier breach of the profit and sustainability limits in 2021. The initial breach carried a six-point penalty with a further six points suspended until the current campaign.
