EVERTON and Nottingham Forest face a minimum of six points deducted this season after being accused of breaching the Premier League’s financial rules.
After weeks of speculation, League leaders have confirmed that two clubs were accused of breaching the Profitability and Sustainability Rules last term.
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Everton have already been deducted ten points for breaching FFP rules Credit: Reuters
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Nottingham Forest are just four points above the Premier League relegation zone. Credit: Reuters
And that leaves both sides in line to be hit with a significant points deduction that will stave off relegation and put the two in the heart of the relegation battle.
It means Everton, who have already appealed against the ten-point deduction imposed for the offense in 2021-22, face ANOTHER penalty.
An extra six points, with the opening penalty, would drop the Toffees to 19th in the Prem table, just two points ahead of bottom-placed Sheffield United and five points clear of the survival spots.
An Everton statement said: “Everton Football Club accepts the Premier League’s decision that breaches of the Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) for the assessment period ending with the 2022/23 season. forward to the independent commission of the Premier League.
“This applies to the period covering the 2019/20, 2020/21, 2021/22 and 2022/23 seasons. It therefore includes the financial periods (2019/20, 2020/21 and 2021/22) for which the club has already received a penalty of 10 points. The club is currently appealing that penalty.
“The Premier League has no guidelines preventing a club from being sanctioned for alleged breaches in financial periods that have already been subject to sanction, unlike other governing bodies, including the EFL.
“As a result – and due to the Premier League’s new obligation to deal with such matters ‘during the season’ – the club is in a position where it has had no choice but to submit a PSR calculation which remains subject to change, pending the outcome of the appeal.
“The club must now defend another appeal in the Premier League involving the same financial periods for which they have already been fined, before that appeal has even been heard. The club believes that this is the result of a clear deficiency in the rules of the Premier League.
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“Everton can reassure their supporters that they will continue to defend their position during the ongoing appeal and, if necessary to do so, at any future commission – and that the impact on fans will be reflected as part of that process.”
Forest would also drop from 20 points and 15th to the third and final relegation spot, two points behind Luton in 17th.
A Forest statement said: “Nottingham Forest accepts a statement from the Premier League confirming that the club has today been charged with breaching the league’s profitability and sustainability rules.
“The club intends to continue to co-operate fully with the Premier League on this matter and are confident of a swift and fair resolution.”
All 20 Premier League clubs had until December 31 to submit their final accounts for the 2022-23 season.
The League’s new rules, introduced last summer, meant that the deadline for charges to be laid expired today.
The rules allow clubs that spend three consecutive seasons in the top flight to make “allowable losses” – after income and expenses are calculated – of £105m over that period.
Forest, who were in the Championship for the first two seasons under review, were limited to losses of £61m.
The likelihood of a six-point deduction stems from a hearing by an independent panel that assessed Everton’s earlier case.
The three-judge body’s written reasons showed Prem chief executive Richard Masters, on behalf of the League, argued that the standard initial penalty for breaching the “PSR” should be six points, with a further point deducted for every £5m over the limit.
Although the commission decided to ignore that request and impose a sentence based on the evidence presented to them, their final sentence was almost entirely consistent with Prem’s recommendation.
The new fast-track procedure gives both clubs 14 days to respond to the allegations.
The hearing must be completed by April 8, allowing any punishment to be handed down before the end of the season.
Clubs can then appeal, with the next panel’s ruling possibly coming after the season ends, but BEFORE the next term the top 20 members confirm their attendance at the annual summer meeting in June, when each promoted club takes a “share” of the relegated side.
Everton, as in the previous case, will likely try to argue that their books were misjudged and that any penalty should be mitigated by the club’s efforts to stay within the rules.
Forest are understood to be arguing that Brennan Johnson’s £47.5m transfer to Spurs, completed on transfer deadline day on September 1, should be allowed in the accounts for 2022-23. although the football financial year ends on 30 June.
The Welsh striker made three Premier League appearances for Forest this season before moving to North London.
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