Derby County could yet face sanctions for possible breaches of financial regulations after the Football League ordered an independent valuation of their Pride Park stadium.

Derby are among a number of clubs who have been accused by rivals of exploiting a loophole in the rules that has allowed them to buy their stadium to make themselves financially compliant.

That has prompted the EFL to commission property experts to provide a valuation of the Sky Bet Championship club’s ground, The Times can reveal. Sources have said that independent stadium valuations have also been commissioned for Sheffield Wednesday and Reading.

In Derby’s case, the owner and chairman Mel Morris used a separate company to purchase the ground for £80 million — with a deal to then lease