Everton Football Club has been penalized with a 10-point deduction for violating the profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) of the Premier League during the 2021-22 season, as declared by the league.
An independent commission swiftly enforced the deduction, causing Everton to plummet from the 14th position in the standings to the relegation zone, narrowly above Burnley on goal difference.
The Premier League had filed a complaint against the Merseyside club earlier in the year and subsequently referred the case to an independent commission. In a statement released on Friday, the league disclosed that, although Everton acknowledged breaching the PSRs for the season ending in 2021/22 during the proceedings, the exact extent of the breach remained a point of contention.
According to the commission’s findings, Everton FC’s PSR Calculation for the relevant period resulted in a loss of £124.5 million ($154.70 million), surpassing the £105 million threshold permitted under the PSRs.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the penalty, Everton, initially positioned with 14 points after 12 games before the deduction, deemed it “wholly disproportionate and unjust.” The club announced its intention to challenge the decision by appealing to the Premier League.
In a released statement, Everton asserted that it had maintained openness and transparency in providing information to the Premier League, emphasizing its commitment to respecting the integrity of the process. The club also contested the finding that it failed to act with the utmost good faith, stating that it did not perceive this as an allegation made by the Premier League during the proceedings. Everton criticized the severity of the sanction, deeming it neither fair nor a reasonable reflection of the evidence presented.
