Birmingham City as a club and a “number of individuals” have been charged by the English Football League with alleged rule breaches as a result of an investigation into a takeover bid.
The EFL said “sufficient evidence” exists to issue charges of misconduct.
Those charges allege that a number people were allowed to act as ‘relevant persons’ without EFL approval.
There are also charges alleging the passing over of control of the club happened without requisite approval.
The multiple cases will be referred to an independent disciplinary commission and the EFL have said they will make no further comment.
Championship club Birmingham have been owned by China-based Birmingham Sports Holdings Limited since 2016.
They bought the club as Trillion Trophy Asia to become their second successive ownership from Asia, following Carson Yeung’s tenure.
There was an approach to acquire ownership of the club by Paul Richardson and Maxi Lopez, which came to an end in December, and separate negotiations with potential investors, but the EFL has not confirmed the identities of anyone involved in the case.