Luton lose appeal against 30-point deduction

English League Two club Luton will start the new season on minus 30 points after the Football Association rejected an appeal against the punishment on Tuesday.

The Hatters were docked 10 points by the FA for breaching regulations over payments to agents. The Football League then handed down a 20-point deduction after Luton exited administration without agreeing a Company Voluntary Agreement.

Luton wanted the FA to drop their penalty, but a hearing in London refused to overturn the decision despite several former FA heavyweights such as chief executive David Davies writing in on their behalf pleading that they not be so heavily punished.

An FA statement said: “The deduction of 10 points was a heavy sanction, as it was intended to be, but was not excessive as a reflection of the seriousness of the breaches and the need to deter such conduct within football clubs.”