Everton deducted points for breaking PSR

English Premier League club Everton was deducted two points Monday for breaching the league’s profit and sustainability (PSR) rules, the club’s second penalty this season.

admitted breach of £16.6 million [$21 million]”

“Over a three-day hearing last month, the independent Commission heard evidence and arguments from the club in respect of a range of potential mitigating factors for its admitted breach of £16.6 million [$21 million], including the impact of its two successive PSR charges,” the Premier League said in a statement.

The two-point loss drops the Toffees to 16th in the EPL table, two points above the relegation zone.

Trouble balancing the books

Premier League financial rules stipulate that clubs cannot lose more than £105m ($133m) over three years, a threshold Everton has already run into trouble with.

Accounting reports showed that the club lost £89.1m ($112.7m) last year, a significant chunk of which was due to the suspension of the club’s partnership with Russian company USM.

The Merseyside club was handed a ten-point deduction in November that was later reduced to six points upon appeal, also for breaking the PSR. It was then charged a second time in January along with Nottingham Forest, which suffered a four-point deduction in March.

Everton said in a statement it is preparing to appeal the decision. 

extremely concerned by the inconsistency of different commissions”

“Everton remains committed to working collaboratively with the League on all matters relating to PSR but is extremely concerned by the inconsistency of different commissions in respect of points deductions applied,” the statement reads. “The Club would like to place on record its thanks to the Fan Advisory Board and other fan groups for their submissions during this process, and to all Evertonians for their ongoing patience and unstinting support.”

The commission settled on a six-point deduction for Nottingham Forest that was cut to four points after the club submitted an early plea and cooperated with the investigation.

Everton is arguing for a one-point deduction deferred until the start of next season as its hopes of staying in the top flight of English soccer dwindled following the penalty.

Will Everton avoid relegation?

Everton believes its poor financial situation was heavily influenced by what it deemed mitigating factors, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The club also said it reported the PSR breach at the first opportunity and already received punishment for seasons that overlap with the new charge.

called Everton’s situation “broadly consistent” with that of Nottingham Forest

Nonetheless, the commission believes that the punishment is appropriate. It called Everton’s situation “broadly consistent” with that of Nottingham Forest, who it said would undermine the integrity of PSR if it did not receive at least a four-point deduction. 

The Premier League season ends on May 19, but the league has a May 25 deadline for all appeals. In theory, the league table after the final game of the season could differ from the one after the league settles its outstanding cases.

As it stands, the Toffees were already dealt the maximum punishment (barring new charges). They still have seven games remaining in their season, including matches with top-two sides Liverpool and Arsenal.

They also play 15th-place Brentford and relegation-stricken Luton Town and Sheffield United in three of the final four match weeks.