Q&A: Everton’s latest points deduction and what it means for the club
The penalty is the Toffees’ second of the season.
Everton have been plunged deep into Premier League relegation trouble after being docked another two points for a second breach of spending rules.
The Toffees now sit just two points clear of the bottom three with seven fixtures remaining, although they have a game in hand on each of the three sides below them – Nottingham Forest, Luton and Burnley – and are 11 points better off than bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United.
Here, the PA news agency takes a closer look at their plight.
What has happened?
Haven’t we been here before?
Yes. The Merseyside club were hit with an unprecedented 10-point penalty in November after being found to have “taken chances” with PSR. Their losses for the three-year period up to 2021-22 were £124.5million, £19.5million over the threshold, even accounting for allowances made for the Covid-19 pandemic. At the time, they slipped to 19th place as a result, but the sanction was reduced to six points in February following a successful appeal, at which point they climbed to 15th.
What are the PSR?
How much above the limit were Everton?
What were their arguments?
What have Everton said?
The club have signalled both their intention to appeal and commitment to “working collaboratively” with the league on PSR matters, while expressing concern over “the inconsistency of different commissions in respect of points deductions applied”.
Would that be the end of the matter?
Are they alone?
No. Forest were last month docked four points for an overspend of £34.5million on their allowed total of £61million – £22million is deducted from the £105million limit for each season spent outside the Premier League during the qualifying period – with a further two points discounted to reflect their early plea and co-operation. Sky Bet Championship leaders Leicester, who have since reported a pre-tax loss of £89.7million for the year to June 30, 2023, were referred to an independent commission by the Premier League for an alleged breach last month.
