Everton hit with 10-point deduction and plunged into relegation zone after they are found guilty of breaching FFP rules

EVERTON have been hit with a 10-point deduction by the Premier League for breaching profit and sustainability rules.

The sanction takes place with immediate effect which means the Toffees drop five places and are now in the relegation zone – and only off the bottom thanks to goal difference.

PA

Everton have been hit with a ten-point deduction[/caption]

Getty

The Toffees broke rules by recording losses of £124.5million for the 2021/22 season[/caption]

Everton have been plunged into a relegation battle following the sanction

Everton’s sanction means they are the first Premier League team to be hit with a points deduction for breaching FFP rules.

The club have been punished for breaching profit and sustainability rules after recording financial losses of £124.5million for the 2021/22 season.

That exceeds the Premier League threshold, which permits a maximum loss of £105m for one year.

Everton have released a statement revealing their intention to appeal the decision, which they claim is “unjust”.

The statement reads: “Everton Football Club is both shocked and disappointed by the ruling of the Premier League’s Commission.

“The Club believes that the commission has imposed a wholly disproportionate and unjust sporting sanction. The club has already communicated its intention to appeal the decision to the Premier League. The appeal process will now commence and the club’s case will be heard by an Appeal Board appointed pursuant to the Premier League’s rules in due course.

“Everton maintains that it has been open and transparent in the information it has provided to the Premier League and that it has always respected the integrity of the process.

“The club 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 Premier League during the course of proceedings. Both the harshness and severity of the sanction imposed by the Commission are neither a fair nor a reasonable reflection of the evidence submitted.

“The club will also monitor with great interest the decisions made in any other cases concerning the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules.

“Everton cannot comment on this matter any further until the appeal process has concluded.”

Sean Dyche has overseen four wins from 12 games this season but his side are now 19th, sandwiched between bottom-placed Burnley and Sheffield United.

Boyhood Evertonian Jamie Carragher slammed the Premier League’s decision, claiming the punishment is “excessive”.

He said: “The 10-point deduction for Everton is excessive and not right, considering they have been working with the Premier League about this for the last couple of years.

“Would it have been better to be evasive & try & drag it out like other clubs?

“No doubt relegated clubs will have put big pressure on the PL to deal with Everton, but when you consider 6 clubs tried to leave the PL and there was no sanction at all it doesn’t feel right.

“Until other clubs are sanctioned Everton will feel they are being used to show there is no need for an independent regulator, and they are right.”

Everton’s sanction has led some to consider whether other clubs could face a similar punishment – Manchester City were charged with breaching 115 regulations over 14 season from 2009/10 to last season.

One former financial advisor to City has claimed the club could be relegated if hit with similar sanctions by the Premier League.

Gary Lineker reacted by saying: “With Everton being docked 10 points it will be very interesting to see if other clubs are sanctioned.”