Nottingham Forest have had four-point deducted from their total for breaching the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules.
This singular act has dropped them into the relegation zone, one point from safety.
The Premier League is expected to announce on Monday with Forest having the chance to appeal the ruling.
Forest pleaded guilty to the breach but their defence was based around factors relating to the sale of Brennan Johnson.
With all money earned from selling Johnson, an academy product, going down as a profit, the club argued their approach was designed to make them more sustainable.
Premier League clubs are allowed to lose £105m over a three-year period as per the rules but Forest were limited to £61m because they spent two years of that period in the Championship.
Since promotion Forest have signed 42 players at a cost of about £250m, helping them retain their Premier League status last season.