Editorial Staff
19/11/23 16:39

Editorial Staff
19/11/23 16:39

Everton FC receive immediate 10-point Premier League deduction for breaching financial rules

You can now listen to Antigua News articles!

by Mick the Ram

An independent commission, having conducted a 5-day hearing, have ruled that a 10-point deduction be imposed on Everton FC, as a penalty for severely breaching profit and sustainability rules (PSR) for the period ending 2021-22.

The punishment represents the biggest sanction in Premier League (PL) history, since the competition under its present guise began back in 1992, although the League had pushed for a 12-point deduction.

English top-flight clubs are permitted to lose £105m over three years, and the commission found that the Merseyside club had losses to 2021-22 that amounted to £124.5m.

With the deduction taking effect immediately, it sees Everton’s points total drop to just 4 as they slip from relative safety in mid-table, down to 19th position, one off the bottom and only above Burnley on goal difference.

The Merseyside club could now face applications for financial compensation from that club, who were relegated in the referenced season, and Notts Forest (for reasons not apparent); as well as the three teams who lost their Premier status from last year – namely Leicester City, Leeds United and Southampton, although logically only the club finishing 18th (Leicester) has a realistic case.

Both Manchester City and Chelsea, who have their own on-going investigations into their financial dealings, will have noted the outcome with some anxiety.

Everton are expected to appeal the decision.

Incredible losses posted

The commission pointed to overspending, inability or reluctance to sell players, and a lower than projected league finish, as the chief causes of the club’s financial issues. Although the period in question relates only to three seasons ending 2021-22, Everton have actually lost £430m over five straight seasons.

The commission accepted that there had been improvements, but in the period in question Everton still posted significant losses that were more than £20m above what the panel said was “a more than generous threshold” and dismissed several mitigating factors put forward by the club.

The failure to comply with the PSR regime was, they said, essentially down to their own “mismanagement” and the consequence of it all is that Everton’s culpability is great.

Club defends its actions

The club were “both shocked and disappointed” by “harshness and severity” of the ruling, calling it neither “a fair nor a reasonable reflection” of evidence submitted. They stated that they believe the commission has imposed a “wholly disproportionate and unjust sporting sanction.”

They went on to say: “Everton does not recognise the finding that it failed to act with the utmost good faith and it does not understand this to have been an allegation made by the PL during the course of proceedings.”

A spokesperson for the Merseyside outfit maintained that the club had been open and transparent in the information it had provided to the PL and that it has always respected the integrity of the process.

 

 

Watching others closely

The conclusion of the statement released by Everton included their intention to “monitor with great interest the decisions made in any other cases.” Without naming names, that was an obvious nod towards on-going investigations against Manchester City.

The current Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup holders, are accused of more than 100 breaches of financial rules, over a nine-year period from 2009. Chelsea are also expected to be face more scrutiny over dealing undertaken when under the ownership of Roman Abramovich.

Period of change

In September, owner Farhad Moshiri agreed to sell his stake in the Everton FC to American investment fund 777 Partners, with a takeover going through the regulatory processes at present, so this could have a knock-on effect on that deal.

A new stadium is also nearing completion on the banks of the River Mersey, due to open in time for next season. Any further expenditure in the form of compensation, which some estimate could exceed £300m, could take the club to breaking point.

Appeal process

Everton have seven days to lodge their appeal. Once received an appeal board (not the same individuals who made the latest decision) will be appointed and then the PL have seven days to respond to the appeal. A date will then be put in place and that should be before the end of the present season.

Only third PL club to be deducted points

Only twice before have PL clubs been on the receiving end of points deductions. In 2010 Portsmouth lost nine points after going into administration, following a period of building up huge debts attempting to “live beyond their means”.

Middlesbrough had three points deducted after they effectively postponed a game themselves without League permission, claiming that a virus had hit their squad. Both sides were relegated in those seasons.

Long way short of record in EFL

In the EFL there have been plenty of sides hit with deductions, some deservedly, but others far more harshly treated. Luton Town still hold the record with a ridiculous 30-point penalty back in 2008/09, which saw them actually fall out of the League pyramid for a while as a result.

Brave effort

A more recent example of mistreatment was in 2021/22, when Derby County – founder members of the Football League from way back in 1888 – were docked 21 points for bad financial practice by its then owner, and then subsequently slipping into administration. Against the odds they bravely fought hard with a squad of academy youngsters and free transfers and very nearly stayed up, taking their fight to the final weeks of the season.

Their cause was severely hampered by the greed of two fellow clubs: Middlesbrough and Wycombe Wanderers, who saw an opportunity to cash in on Derby’s vulnerability by putting in inappropriate and totally unjust claims for compensation. Backed into a corner a settlement had to be agreed, but their shameless behaviour very nearly sent the club out of business, until an 11th hour rescue brought Derby back from the brink.

Beware of the greedy vultures

Everton will do well to note those events should they receive similar unjustified claims from clubs looking to capitalise on their misfortune.  

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.