Everton ‘may begin next season on minus points’ due to £6.5m Premier League dispute | Football | Sport
Everton are reportedly at risk of starting next season on minus points if the Premier League successfully argue that their financial losses for the three-year period up to 2022/23 are greater than the club claim. The Toffees have already been docked points twice this campaign for breaching Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
Even if they avoid the drop, next term could be another tough one for manager Sean Dyche due to a hearing which is set to take place this summer. Everton admitted to losing £16.5million more than the threshold set out by PSR, which allows Premier League clubs to lose a maximum of £105m over a three-year period, and it saw them deducted two points by an independent commission on Monday.
However, the Premier League believe that Everton’s losses are actually £23m over the threshold. The Toffees put £6.5m of that figure down to interest payments and stadium costs, which fall outside the realm of PSR, but the Premier League disagree.
According to The i, these figures will be assessed in a hearing scheduled to take place after the end of the season. That means Everton are safe from further punishment for now, but could begin 2024/25 at a disadvantage.
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An excerpt of the written judgment reads: “The Commission is acutely aware that there are many stakeholders – to name some: the Premier League, Everton, the Everton fans, all other Premier League clubs, the public – interested in the speedy determination of these disciplinary proceedings.
“Nevertheless, in fairness to the parties in these proceedings, the commission decided that the issues which remain cannot be dealt with in accordance with the timetable set out in the Standard Directions.”
No club since the English top flight was rebranded in 1992 has started a Premier League season on minus points. The two-point penalty served to Everton on Monday followed a six-point deduction applied earlier this season, which was reduced from 10 points on appeal.
