Despite beating Yorkshire Vikings in their final North Group game, the Foxes' fate had been sealed hours earlier by the Cricket Discipline Commission
Colin Ackermann bemoaned Leicestershire's poor disciplinary record "in the heat of the moment" after their damaging charge sheet saw them crash out of the T20 Blast.
Just hours before their winner-takes-all final North Group game against Yorkshire Vikings, the Foxes were informed they were being deducted two points for incurring two fixed penalties against Northamptonshire Steelbacks.
Naveen-ul-Haq and Arron Lilley were reprimanded for their actions during the one-run defeat at Grace Road on Friday (July 1).
They took the club's breaches since August 2020 to nine, with Ackermann the captain throughout, and ended hopes of reaching the Blast quarter-finals.
Players were informed the evening prior to the clash with Vikings, leaving them "disappointed" and "gutted", before cruising to an inconsequential 60-run victory.
"We were very disappointed by the decision to deduct points, so in those circumstances, I was proud of the professionalism the players showed today," said Ackermann, according to the ECB Reporters Network.
"We wanted to finish the season on a high in front of our home crowd and I’m really pleased with the victory but in saying that it is bittersweet.
Rehan Ahmed continue his impressive form with three wickets (David Rogers/Getty Images)
"I can’t really say whether it was a fair decision. Things happen on the field in the heat of the moment but it is what it is, the decision has been made and there’s nothing much more I can say about it.
"We found out at about 10pm on Saturday (July 2) evening and we were obviously gutted. But credit to the players for stepping up today in the way that they did for what was effectively a dead rubber from our point of view."
Leicestershire passed 200 for the second time in as many games batting first, putting on 211 for 7 from their 20 overs with 72 not out from Ackermann, his second straight fifty.
Nick Welch struck 46, Lilley 35 and Louis Kimber 30 before Rehan Ahmed starred with 3 for 17 as Yorkshire finished on 151 for 9.
"We were excellent today, set up beautifully at the top of the order by Nick Welch, who has made so much progress this season as an opening batter and then Louis Kimber came in at the end with a platform to play his shots," added Ackermann.
"He’s 6ft 3ins, a big strong lad and he executed his job perfectly today.
"I was pleased to score some runs again myself, just a bit disappointed this form didn’t come earlier in this season."
Welcome to www.thecricketer.com - the online home of the world’s oldest cricket magazine. Breaking news, interviews, opinion and cricket goodness from every corner of our beautiful sport, from village green to national arena.