Everton 10 point deduction for violating Premier League profitability and sustainability regulations has been decreased to six points after an appeal.
The Toffees challenged the ruling that penalized them with a deduction in November for violating PSR between 2019 and 2022. The Everton 10 point deduction has now been reduced to 6 points and as a result, the team’s points total has been adjusted to 25, moving them up to 15th place from 17th and placing them five points clear of the relegation zone.
“An independent appeal board has concluded that the sanction for Everton FC’s breach of the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules (PSRs), for the period ending season 2021/22, will be an immediate six-point deduction,” a Premier League statement read. “Everton FC appealed the sanction imposed against it on nine grounds, each of which related to the sanction rather than the fact of the breach, which the club admitted.
“Two of those nine grounds were upheld by the appeal board, which has substituted the original points deduction of 10 for six.”
“This revised sanction has immediate effect and the Premier League table will be updated today to reflect this.”
Initially, Everton’s points deduction caused them to fall from 14th place in the rankings to the relegation zone with only four points. The team contested this deduction, criticizing it as being excessive and unfair. However, in a recent announcement, Everton expressed contentment with the board’s choice to lessen the penalty imposed on them.
“While the club is still digesting the Appeal Board’s decision, we are satisfied our appeal has resulted in a reduction in the points sanction,” it read.
“The club is also particularly pleased with the Appeal Board’s decision to overturn the original Commission’s finding that the club failed to act in utmost good faith. That decision, along with reducing the points deduction, was an incredibly important point of principle for the Club on appeal. The Club, therefore, feels vindicated in pursuing its appeal.”
Everton has acknowledged violating Financial Fair Play regulations for the period up to the 2021/22 season, with their total losses during that time totaling 124.5 million pounds as determined by an independent commission. The Premier League’s rules state that clubs can only incur a maximum loss of 105 million pounds ($133.33 million) over a three-year span. Despite initially bouncing back with four consecutive wins after the deduction, Everton has slipped back into the relegation battle after a nine-game winless streak. In January, Everton faced another charge from the Premier League for a separate Financial Fair Play breach, along with Nottingham Forest.
Both teams have been reported to the chair of the Judicial Panel by the Premier League. An independent commission will be appointed to decide on the suitable punishment, which could potentially involve another deduction of points for the team led by Sean Dyche. A second points penalty would heighten the chances of relegation and contribute to the uncertainty surrounding Everton’s future. Everton is currently engaged in prolonged takeover discussions with US investment fund 777 Partners and is also aiming to relocate to a new stadium by the 2025-26 season.
