Leeds United and West Brom could see their potential promotion blocked should their Championship rivals launch legal action against any EFL decision to decide the final league table, prohibiting their rise to the Premier League.
That's according to a leading sports lawyer who has warned that sides like Nottingham Forest, who could be set to miss out on promotion due to games not being completed between now and the end of the season, could be in a position to seek legal action.
Next week, during a call with Leagues One and Two clubs, EFL boss Rick Parry is expected to table a vote that could bring the lower league season to an end with how promotion and relegation will be settled central to the decision.
And the outcome could set a precedent for how an incomplete Championship could also be decided.
Currently, 'weighted points per game' is said to be the favoured option but that has angered many of the promotion-chasing pack.
Peterborough United chairman Darragh MacAnthony has already threatened legal action on an "epic" scale should this mechanism be used to decide who goes up in League One, with his side falling short.
And now a leading sports lawyer has revealed that clubs and their legal teams could be able to block their rivals from getting promoted this season by filing for an injunction.
James Severn, an expert on sports law and partner at Penningtons Manches Cooper, has told Sportsmail: "League One is really interesting with only three points between second and eighth.
"Any club missing out in such a scenario may consider a claim in damages or seek an injunction prohibiting the League from taking a decision to promote or relegate clubs."
Leeds currently lead the way in the Championship ahead of West Brom.
Fulham are third, six points behind the top two, with Brentford, Nottingham Forest and Preston closely following.
The EFL have maintained that their aim remains to complete the rest of the season.
