Why did Everton get hit with a 10-point deduction and could the Toffees have got a more harsh punishment?

EVERTON have been slapped with a 10-point deduction – and have plummeted towards the bottom of the Premier League as a result.

The Toffees are now only one place off the bottom – above last-placed Burnley only on goal difference – despite picking up four wins and two draws from their 12 games.

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Everton have been hit with a 10-point deduction[/caption]

Why did Everton get hit with a 10-point deduction?

Everton were found guilty of one count of breaching Financial Fair Play rules.

The Premier League has called for the punishment after Everton recorded heavy financial losses over the past three years.

The Prem’s permitted amount is £105m – less than a third of Everton’s losses.

The Toffees had posted financial losses of almost £372m over a three-year period – around £250m above the permitted amount.

However, the Premier League do allow teams to go over budget under very rare circumstances – including the building of a new stadium.

Everton are currently in the middle of building their new ground at Bramley-Moore Dock.

In total, the Merseysiders were only £19.5m over budget, meaning a much less severe punishment was imposed.

The league had initially proposed a six-point deduction for FFP rule breaches PLUS an additional point for every £5m over the limit.

While the commission claims to have declined to follow that plan, that would equate to roughly 10 points – suggesting the punishment fit the crime.

What has been said?

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.”

Has a Premier League club ever had a points deduction?

Everton are the first Premier League club to be hit with a points deduction for breaching FFP rules.

However, Portsmouth were deducted nine points in March 2010 after going into administration for failing to pay debts of around £65million.