The Premier League have confirmed that Everton Football Club have been handed an immediate ten-point deduction due to being guilty of breaching the Premier League’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules.
The Toffees’ deduction means that they fall from 14th in the table down to 19th, above Burnley on goal difference and now below the likes of Luton Town and Sheffield United.
It had been rumoured and suggested that the deduction could have been as high as 12 or 15 points but instead they have lost ten points from their total of 14 so far this season.
It is only the third time in Premier League history that a club has been docked points and the first time a club has been docked points for failing to comply with the Premier League’s FFP regulations.
Middlesbrough were docked three points in 1997 for failing to fulfil a fixture at Ewood Park against Blackburn Rovers, citing a lack of available players due to a bug that had gone round the squad. Portsmouth lost 12 points in 2010 as a result of entering into administration. Both clubs were eventually relegated at the end of their respective campaigns.
Everton, under the management of Sean Dyche, had picked up some good form of late with a 3-2 victory at Selhurst Park on Saturday afternoon extending their unbeaten run of form to four matches across all competitions. They have lost three of their of their 12 games with two of those defeats coming against Arsenal and Liverpool with a surprise loss at home to Luton Town, too, which could prove even more crucial than it first appeared.
Everton’s first game back in action after the November international break is set to involve a raucous atmosphere at Goodison Park as they welcome north west rivals Manchester United on Sunday 26th November.
