Everton have been handed a 10-point deduction by the Premier League for FFP rule breaches, setting a precedent for Chelsea and Manchester City’s investigations.
The Athletic reported on Friday afternoon that Everton had been handed a 10-point penalty for breaching the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules in the 2021/22 season.
The club was referred to an independent commission in March, and a hearing took place last month.
Everton sustained a loss for the relevant period of £124.5m, which exceeds the maximum allowable loss of £105m.
In response, Everton released a statement, which notably included the following line: “The club will also monitor with great interest the decisions made in any other cases concerning the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules.”
This is seemingly a reference to ongoing investigations against Chelsea and Manchester City, which are yet to reach a conclusion.
Chelsea self-reported incomplete financial information related to transactions under previous owner Roman Abramovich, between 2012 and 2019.
The Premier League are still investigating that one, and The Guardian recently reported on leaked files suggesting “Abramovich used offshore vehicles to fund tens of millions in football-related expenses that ought to have been paid for by the club”.
As for Manchester City, we’re all well aware of the 115 charges against the league leaders. The Athletic claim it’s expected that a verdict will take “considerable time to be reached”.
But if Everton can be handed a 10-point penalty for one breach of less than £20m, City’s 115 charges should see incredibly strong punishments if proven.
If one breach is a 10-point penalty, you’d have to think relegation would be on the cards for City, or even expulsion from the football league.
Of course, that would rely on the punishments being proportionate. As Everton put it, we’ll all monitor those decisions with great interest.
