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EPL Side Watford Faces Fine, Points Deduction Over Forged HSBC Bank Letter

Premier League club Watford is "under investigation after supplying falsified financial information to the football authorities," according to Ben Rumsby of the London TELEGRAPH. Watford faces a "heavy fine, and possibly a points deduction," for submitting a "forged banking letter when Gino Pozzo became their sole owner." The faked filing, provided as proof that Pozzo "had enough funds to bankroll Watford, allowed the Italian to take full control of the Hertfordshire club." Fabricated to appear as though it was written by bank HSBC, the letter "was submitted to the Football League (now EFL)" shortly before the club’s '14-15 promotion-winning campaign. An EFL spokesperson said, “We can confirm, following receipt of information from The Daily Telegraph, that we immediately commenced a disciplinary investigation into serious allegations made against Watford Football Club. The club has been formally contacted by the EFL and is now required to provide a full and detailed response to the allegations. Once that response is received, it will be fully considered by the EFL and appropriate action will be taken under our rules and regulations.” According to the EFL’s rules from '14, under which Watford’s case will be judged, its sanctions range "from warnings to expulsions from competitions." Watford is also preparing to publish accounts showing the Italian subsequently invested £21M in the club from '14-16. However, this may not be enough "to avoid some kind of sanction" (TELEGRAPH, 10/25).

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