Everton Drop to 19th in Premier League Table After 10-Point Penalty for FFP Violation

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Everton suddenly finds itself in danger of relegation after a 10-point deduction for breaching the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules dropped the club to 19th in the table on Friday.

In a statement from the Premier League, an independent commission imposed a 10-point deduction on the Toffees for a breach of the rules during the 2021-22 season:

“The Premier League issued a complaint against the club and referred the case to an independent commission earlier this year. During the proceedings, the club admitted it was in breach of the PSRs for the period ending Season 2021/22 but the extent of the breach remained in dispute.

“Following a five-day hearing last month, the commission determined that Everton FC’s PSR calculation for the relevant period resulted in a loss of £124.5 million, as contended by the Premier League, which exceeded the threshold of £105 million permitted under the PSRs. The commission concluded that a sporting sanction in the form of a 10-point deduction should be imposed. That sanction has immediate effect.”

In response to the punishment, Everton said in a statement it was “shocked and disappointed by the ruling” and will file an appeal:

The Times’ Martyn Ziegler reported in May 2022 that Leeds United and Burnley submitted a joint letter to the Premier League threatening to bring a legal claim against the league and Everton.

The clubs also demanded to see details “of what—if any—action or investigation the league” has started after the Goodison Park club recorded financial losses totaling £371.8 million over the previous three years.

Per ESPN’s Mark Ogden, the Premier League’s profit and financial stability rules allow clubs “to register losses of up to £105m over a three-year period or risk the prospect of financial penalties or, in serious cases, a points deduction.”

Everton, Leeds and Burnley were all fighting to avoid relegation at the end of the 2021-22 season. The Toffees’ 3-2 win over Crystal Palace in their penultimate game gave them 39 points overall, finishing one point ahead of Leeds and four better than Burnley in the table.

Instead, the 10-point deduction dropped the Merseyside club from 14th place in the Premier League standings with 14 points to a tie with Burnley for fewest points this season.

Manager Sean Dyche’s team is in the midst of a three-match unbeaten streak after a 2-1-6 start. There are still 25 matches left in the Premier League season for the club to dig itself out of this hole, but this is a much more difficult task if the appeal is denied.

Everton has been a member of the Premier League since it launched in the 1992-93 season. Its best finish was fourth place in 2004-05 and most recently finished in the top 10 in 2020-21. It has not been outside of the English top tier since 1954.

The Blues’ next Premier League match is against Manchester United at Goodison Park on Nov. 26.