Football: Everton points deduction reduced on appeal!
By Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw
Everton’s penalty for breaching the English Premier League Profit and Sustainability Rules, introduced in the 2015-2016 season, during the three-year period to 2021-2022 has been reduced as a result of an appeal.
The deduction of ten points imposed by an independent commission in November of last year has been reduced to six points by a three-member appeal board on the ground that legal errors had been made.
In particular, the appeal board stated that the commission
“was wrong not to take into account available benchmarks.”
And added that a six-point deduction was
“broadly in line with English Football League guidelines.”
Everton stated that the appeal board’s decision to overturn the commission’s finding that they failed to act in good faith was
“an incredibly important point of principle.”
The points reduction moves them up the League table from 17th to 15th position.
However, Everton is not yet out of the woods, as they were charged in January of this year for alleged breaches of their financial accounts for the season 2022-2023.
That case must be heard by 8 April 2024 and any appeal could extend the period to 24 May 2024, a week after the end of the current season!
Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw may be contacted by e-mail at ‘
