The barrister who was crucial in helping Leicester City to avoid a points deduction admits he been subjected to an ‘unusual’ request from supporters.
Nick De Marco, a well-known sports lawyer, acted on the case that saw the Foxes’ pending points deduction overturned after an independent panel found that the Premier League did not have the jurisdiction to punish the club.
It’s a decision that left the league incensed, and they are currently considering changing their rules around profit and sustainability.
De Marco’s help with the case has seen him become a favourite among the Leicester faithful at the King Power Stadium, with many believing that no points deduction will help in their fight to avoid relegation back to the Championship.
- READ MORE: What Nick De Marco said to Leicester City fans after winning PSR case against Premier League
Nick De Marco admits he receives ‘unusual’ request from football fans
Leicester wasn’t the only case that De Marco worked on. Before the Foxes, De Marco played a role in the process that allowed the Saudi Public Investment Fund to complete their takeover of Newcastle United.
Following that achievement, De Marco was told by Newcastle fans that he would never need to buy a pint in the city again, while also achieving new-found fame.
He told The Times: “I had fans asking for selfies. Which is a little unusual for a barrister.”
Nick De Marco explains how Leicester City avoided points deduction
The Foxes’ battle with the Premier League was a controversial one for many.
For clubs like Everton and Nottingham Forest, who received points deductions for breaching PSR rules, they felt aggrieved that Leicester had avoided a similar fate while the Premier League itself accused them of exploiting a loophole.
However, De Marco revealed that the league had failed to account for one certain ruling.
“Some people say it’s a technicality, a loophole, but it’s much more than that in this case because you are relegated on June 13 and your account end is June 30.
“You know that football’s main business is in the summer transfer window, which starts on June 14. So you’ve got two weeks in which you can spend or sell for tens or hundreds of millions, and what you do in those two weeks will be determinative of whether or not you have breached the rules.
“When you think about it, it’s not a technicality or loophole. The question is when does the breach occur, and the breach only occurs at the end of that period and that period is after the club is in the Premier League.”