Everton have hit out at what they describe as a “clear deficiency” in the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules as the Toffees face up to a potential second points deduction.
In November, Everton were deducted 10 points after an independent commission found them to have exceeded the competition’s maximum allowed loss by £19.5million across a four-year period running from 2018-19 to 2021-22.
That punishment – the largest in Premier League history – plunged Sean Dyche’s team into a relegation battle, though they have since recovered to sit one point clear of 18th-placed Luton Town.
Everton are currently appealing that penalty, but they now face the possibility of a second deduction being applied before the end of this campaign, after the Premier League charged them with another breach of the rules during the period running to the end of last season.
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Nottingham Forest were also charged with breaching the rules during the same period, and both clubs’ cases will now be heard by independent commissions, who must report their decisions by April 12.
While Forest pledged to “cooperate fully” with the Premier League in a conciliatory statement on Monday, Everton struck a far more combative tone in their response, questioning the lack of guidelines to prevent clubs being punished twice for the same financial years.
A club statement read: “Everton Football Club acknowledges the Premier League’s decision to refer a breach of profit and sustainability rules (PSR) for the assessment period ending with the 2022-23 season to an independent Premier League commission.
Club Statement. pic.twitter.com/iFgMCpsR5G
— Everton (@Everton) January 15, 2024
“This relates to a period which covers seasons 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23. It therefore includes financial periods (2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22) for which the club has already received a 10-point sanction. The club is currently appealing that sanction.
“The Premier League does not have guidelines which prevent a club being sanctioned for alleged breaches in financial periods which have already been subject to punishment, unlike other governing bodies, including the EFL.
“As a result – and because of the Premier League’s new commitment to deal with such matters ‘in-season’ – the club is in a position where it has had no option but to submit a PSR calculation which remains subject to change, pending the outcome of the appeal.
“The club must now defend another Premier League complaint which includes the very same financial periods for which it has already been sanctioned, before that appeal has even been heard.
“The club takes the view that this results from a clear deficiency in the Premier League’s rules.
“Everton can assure its fans that it will continue to defend its position during the ongoing appeal and, should it be required to do so, at any future commission – and that the impact on supporters will be reflected as part of that process.”
Club statement.
— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) January 15, 2024
