Championship club Reading on Wednesday accepted a six-point deduction for breaking the English Football League's financial regulations.

The second-tier side have also had a further six-point deduction suspended over the breach.

"Reading Football Club has been deducted six points from this season's (2021/22) points tally, with a further six points suspended until the end of the 2022/23 season, after admitting to breaches of the EFL's profitability and sustainability rules," the EFL said in a statement.

"It follows a review of the financial submission from the club for the four-year period 2017/18 to 2020/21 where it was determined the club had recorded a loss of £57.8 million ($78 million), £18.8 million in excess of the £39.0 million upper loss threshold."

Profit and sustainability rules permit a maximum loss of £39 million across three seasons.

The deduction means Reading drop to 19th in the Championship table, four points above the relegation zone.

Wayne Rooney's Derby were Tuesday deducted a further nine points for breaches of accounting rules, taking the total they have been docked this season to 21.

Derby are marooned at the bottom of the Championship table on minus three points, 18 points from safety, with relegation to League One -- the third tier of English football -- looking inevitable.