Salford Red Devils have been docked six points for breaching salary cap rules.
An independent tribunal found the Super League outfit guilty of violating RFL operational rules and financial regulations by exceeding the wage bill limit of £1.825m in 2014.
Salford have also been fined £5,000 along with the points deduction, which comes into effect immediately and moves the club down to 11th in the table.
The tribunal said that contractual negotiations with three players had broken the rules, but found the club not guilty of a number of offences concerning its agreements with two squad members.
Salford owner Marwan Koukash vowed to fight the points deduction when it emerged as a possibility last month. His club has 14 days to lodge an appeal against the ruling.
