Martin O’Neill says if rival Championship clubs have broken Financial Fair Play rules, they deserve to be punished.
And the Nottingham Forest boss does believe a few clubs have put their promotion ambitions ahead of any concerns of the consequences, when it comes to FFP.
Birmingham City were docked nine points for a breach of the Football League profitability and sustainability rules, leaving them looking nervously over their shoulders at the wrong end of the table, rather than having an outside chance of making the play-offs.
Aston Villa, Leeds United, Sheffield Wednesday and Derby are also among a further group of clubs rumoured to be under varying degrees of scrutiny, with regard to potential breaches.
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O’Neill said he did not know enough detail to comment on the position of individual clubs. But he does believe any rule breaches should be punished.
“There does seem to be clubs who have taken that approach (that they will worry about the consequences later), yes,” said Reds boss O’Neill.
“First of all I think that, if rules are in place – which is the important thing – and, secondly, that you are aware of them and you know how they work and you break those rules, there has to be some sort of punishment.
“That is regardless of who is involved. That is the way I would look at it.”
When asked about Birmingham’s situation in particular, O’Neill joked: “I think if it could happen to another 14 clubs before the end of the season, I would be ecstatic! As long as we are not in that position, of course.
“No, honestly, I do not know enough about the details, but if the rules are there and you have broken them – and perhaps blatantly broken them – then I suppose there has to be punishment.
“I do not know the best way to do that or to sort it out.”
