Sheffield Wednesday charged by EFL over failure to pay wages on time

 

Sheffield Wednesday Football Club faces serious charges from the English Football League for failing to pay players’ wages on time and in full during March and May 2025. The club’s owner, Dejphon Chansiri, is also charged for causing these breaches, despite his assurances to cover the club’s financial needs. This marks another chapter in the club’s ongoing financial struggles, with similar issues reported in 2020, 2021, and 2023. The EFL enforces strict rules, allowing only a 30 day grace period for late payments within a season. Exceeding this risks penalties like transfer embargoes or points deductions.

In April 2025, the club narrowly avoided a three window transfer ban by settling March wages, but the unresolved May payments have escalated concerns. The charges could lead to severe sanctions, threatening the club’s competitiveness in the EFL Championship. Chansiri attributed the delays to cashflow problems linked to debts owed to his businesses, but this has not quelled fan frustration. Supporters are calling for EFL intervention and Chansiri’s departure, especially after he rejected two takeover bids from a US consortium in 2025.

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The club issued a statement acknowledging the charges, apologizing to fans, and claiming efforts to resolve the outstanding May salaries. Both the club and Chansiri have 14 days to respond to the EFL’s charges. This situation has heightened tensions at Hillsborough, with fans voicing discontent over the club’s management and financial instability. The outcome of these charges could have significant implications for Sheffield Wednesday’s future, both on and off the pitch, as they navigate this turbulent period under intense scrutiny from the EFL and their loyal fanbase.