Yes. Expulsion is one of the four ways a club loses Premier League membership, and it requires a special resolution passed by at least three-quarters of the members entitled to vote and actually voting at a general meeting.
The four ways membership ends
Here are the routes by which Premier League membership comes to an end.
| Route | What it takes |
|---|---|
| Relegation | Finishing in the bottom three |
| A board notice | The board receiving a notice under article 7.5 of the articles |
| Expulsion | A special resolution carried by at least three-quarters of the voting members |
| Resignation | Notice, effective only from the end of the third season afterwards |
A club stops being entitled to league membership in any of those four situations. Once the transfer of its ordinary share in the league is registered, it also stops being a member.
What an expulsion vote requires
Expulsion depends on a special resolution. The threshold is at least three-quarters of the members who are entitled to vote and do vote, rather than three-quarters of all members in every case.
The vote must take place at a general meeting, and the notice for that meeting must have specified the intention to propose the resolution. Voting can be done through club representatives or by proxy.
When a resignation takes effect
A club can resign, but the effect is delayed. The resignation takes effect only from 23:59 on the last day of the third season following the season in which notice is given.
The rules give a worked example: a notice served during the 2026/27 season would take effect only from the end of the 2029/30 season. That makes resignation a route with a built-in waiting period rather than an immediate exit.
What ends membership in practice
The routes are separate, and each one has its own trigger. One depends on sporting outcome, two on a notice being received, and one on a formal vote at a general meeting.
Membership itself ends once the transfer of the club's ordinary share in the league has been registered, which follows one of those four routes rather than forming a route of its own.
FAQ
Can the Premier League kick a club out?
Yes. Expulsion is an available route, but it is not automatic or informal. It needs a special resolution passed at a general meeting with the required voting majority.
How does a club lose its Premier League membership?
There are four routes: relegation, the board receiving a notice under article 7.5 of the articles, expulsion, and resignation. Each route has its own condition for taking effect.
Can a Premier League club resign from the league?
Yes, but resignation does not take effect straight away. The effective time is fixed at 23:59 on the last day of the third season after the season in which notice is served.
What vote is needed to expel a Premier League club?
The resolution must be carried by at least three-quarters of the members who are entitled to vote and actually do so. Those votes can be cast by representatives attending the meeting or by proxy.