Everton have had their 10-point penalty for breaching financial rules reduced to six on appeal.
The Toffees were hit with the sanction on November 17 after a £19.5million overspend of the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability rules. The club admitted wrongdoing but disputed the size of the breach, insisting it was only £7.9m.
They subsequently appealed after describing the punishment as “disproportionate and unjust”.
The verdict moves Everton up to 15th in the Premier League table, five points above the relegation zone.
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A Premier League statement read: “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.
“This follows the club’s appeal of an independent Commission’s decision in November 2023 to impose a 10-point deduction for the club’s breach of the PSRs.
“The appeal was heard over three days earlier this month, by an Appeal Board comprising Sir Gary Hickinbottom (chair), Daniel Alexander KC and Katherine Apps KC.
“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.”
Club Statement. 🔵HTTPS://T.CO/16XC0QRLTV
— Everton (@Everton) FEBRUARY 26, 2024
Everton also released a statement in which they stated the outcome justified the appeal.
It read: “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.
“We understand the Appeal Board considered the 10-point deduction originally imposed to be inappropriate when assessed against the available benchmarks of which the club made the Commission aware, including the position under the relevant EFL regulations, and the 9-point deduction that is imposed under the Premier League’s own rules in the event of insolvency.
“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.”
🔵 Here is how the Premier League table looks after #EFC’s 10-points reduction was reduced by four following their appeal
#️⃣ #PL #TOTALSPORT PIC.TWITTER.COM/YFLWU5KJOR
— BBC Sport Merseyside (@bbcmerseysport) FEBRUARY 26, 2024
Everton are also facing a second potential sanction for a possible breach of PSR rules for the period ending Season 2022/23.
Everton added: “Notwithstanding the Appeal Board’s decision, and the positive outcome, the club remains fully committed to cooperating with the Premier League in respect of the ongoing proceedings brought for the accounting period ending in June 2023.
“The club is still considering the wider implications of the decision and will make no further comment at this time other than to place on record its thanks to our Fan Advisory Board and other fan groups throughout this process, and to all Evertonians for their ongoing support and patience.”
Today’s announcement is good news for Everton but not the other teams battling the drop. Third-bottom Luton are now four points from safety, although they do have a game in hand on 17th-placed Nottingham Forest.
