Oxford United have been fined £3,500 and handed a suspended one-year transfer fee ban, external as a result of the club accumulating 30 days or more of late payments in the 12-month period from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024.

Initially, the U’s were issued with a three-transfer window fee restriction which would have seen them only able to sign free agents during that period of time.

“Due to an isolated administrative error, the club were reported to the EFL for late payments to another club,” said Oxford United Club Secretary, Vanessa Gomm., external

“The issue was dealt with swiftly, with payment made in full. However, as per EFL rules, the breach triggered an automatic financial penalty of £3,500 alongside the automatic imposition of a three-transfer window fee restriction.”

United lodged an appeal on the basis that “the sanction was disproportionate to the conduct in question”.

Following a review of this appeal, an independent Disciplinary Commission agreed with the club’s position and reduced the three-window restriction to one, suspended for two years, which will only be triggered upon a further breach of Regulation 52.6.3.

Des Buckingham’s side will play in the Championship next season, returning to the second tier of English football for the first time in 25 years.

As a result of the successful appeal, the U’s will still be able to operate as usual in the transfer window.