Everton hit with second Premier League PSR charge
Everton FC has been hit with a second charge of breaching the Premier League’s Profit & Sustainability rules (PSR).
The Blues, alongside fellow Premier League strugglers, Nottingham Forest, have been referred to an independent commission which will consider the alleged offences.
If the charges are found, depending on the severity of the punishment if points are deducted, both clubs could face relegation to the Championship, with both sides hovering above the drop-zone.
Last November Everton was hit with a 10 points deduction – the biggest in league history – for breaching the financial rules. The club has appealed the ruling and awaits the outcome of its protest.
The latest charge covers the assessment period ending with the 2022/23 season.
However, Everton is claiming double jeopardy, arguing that the latest charge relates to a period which covers seasons 2019/20, 2020/21, 2021/22 and 2022/23, and, therefore, includes financial periods (2019/20, 2020/21 and 2021/22) for which the club has already received a 10-point sanction.
A club statement said: “The Premier League does not have guidelines which prevent a club being sanctioned for alleged breaches in financial periods which have already been subject to punishment, unlike other governing bodies, including the EFL (English Football League).
“As a result – and because of the Premier League’s new commitment to deal with such matters ‘in-season’ the club is in a position where it has had no option but to submit a PSR calculation which remains subject to change, pending the outcome of the appeal.
“The club must now defend another Premier League complaint which includes the very same financial periods for which it has already been sanctioned, before that appeal has even been heard.
“The club takes the view that this results from a clear deficiency in the Premier League’s rules.”
It added: “Everton can assure its fans that it will continue to defend its position during the ongoing appeal and, should it be required to do so, at any future commission – and that the impact on supporters will be reflected as part of that process.”
A commission is unable to consider the most recent charge against Everton until the club’s appeal has been dealt with.
