EVERTON’S failed attempt to escape a record points deduction saw the Goodison club claiming they should be allowed extra wriggle room for NOT suing a player.
The club’s case was that after “Player X” – who is not named in the independent commission report – was arrested in July 2021, they sought to protect his “mental welfare” at a financial cost.
While the player was sacked the following month they opted not to sue him for breach of contract because of the potential personal impact.
But at the hearing, Everton argued that the £10m minimum they could have demanded should have been calculated into their financial losses, minimising their breach of League rules.
According to the written reasons, Everton claimed the club was “entitled to credit for not pursuing an economically viable claim” against the player.
The commission dismissed the argument, branding it “speculative” and pointing out there was “no evidence that Player X would have been able to meet whatever judgment might have been obtained”.
Prem chiefs were also underwhelmed by a claim that Everton missed out on the transfer value of another star, “Player Y”. because of the pandemic.
Indeed, the League’s lawyers claimed the “factual reality” was that Everton had made a decision NOT to sell him – thus meaning no Covid-based financial deduction could possibly apply.
Everton are now in 19th place in the Prem table following what the claim to be a “disproportionate” and “unjust” sanction, which they plan to appeal.
A club statement read: ” Everton Football Club is both shocked and disappointed by the ruling of the Premier League’s Commission.
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EVERTON have become the first Premier League team to be deducted points for breaching Financial Fair Play regulations for profit and sustainability.
The Toffees’ ten-point hit comes after an independent Commission determined Everton recorded losses of £124.5million as per Premier League regulation calculations over the three years up to 2021-22 – exceeding the permitted £105m limit.
The Goodison Park club have posted financial deficits for five years in a row.
Manchester City are fighting 115 charges of FFP breaches put forward by the Premier League last season.
Only two clubs in Premier League history have been docked points.
Middlesbrough saw three points deducted in 1996-97 for failing to fulfil a fixture against Blackburn.
In March 2010, Portsmouth had nine points stripped for entering administration.
Both Middlesbrough and Portsmouth were relegated following their respective points punishments.
The ten-point deduction drops Everton to 19th in the Premier League table, level on four points with bottom-club Burnley.
“The Club believes that the Commission has imposed a wholly disproportionate and unjust sporting sanction.
“The club has already communicated its intention to appeal the decision to the Premier League.
“The appeal process will now commence and the Club’s case will be heard by an Appeal Board appointed pursuant to the Premier League’s rules in due course.
“Everton maintains that it has been open and transparent in the information it has provided to the Premier League and that it has always respected the integrity of the process.
“The club does not recognise the finding that it failed to act with the utmost good faith and it does not understand this to have been an allegation made by the Premier League during the course of proceedings.
“Both the harshness and severity of the sanction imposed by the Commission are neither a fair nor a reasonable reflection of the evidence submitted.
The club will also monitor with great interest the decisions made in any other cases concerning the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules.
“Everton cannot comment on this matter any further until the appeal process has concluded.”
