BREAKING: Nottingham Forest launches ‘Attack on Everton’ in appeal hearing today and Everton will now face…… .

Nottingham Forest has been accused of launching an “attack” on Everton during their Financial Fair Play (FFP) hearing. According to lawyer Stefan Borson, Forest argued that they should receive a lighter penalty for their FFP breach because they did not delay their hearing to avoid relegation, unlike what they claim Everton did in the previous season[14].

In the hearing document, it is stated that Forest believes Everton managed to avoid relegation in the 2022/23 season by initially denying the complaint against them and resisting the Premier League’s application for an expedited hearing, which resulted in the proceedings not being determined until November 2023. Forest suggested that clubs that cooperate with the Premier League should be “significantly rewarded” to encourage others to do the same and to deter any attempts to delay or disrupt proceedings[14].

As a result of their argument, Nottingham Forest received a four-point deduction, which is less severe than the ten-point deduction initially given to Everton, and still two points fewer than what Everton’s deduction was reduced to upon appeal[14]. Forest’s breach amounted to an overspend of £34.5 million, which was higher than Everton’s £19.5 million overspend[14][17]. However, Forest’s lower spending limit was due to their time in the Championship, and the commission seemed to value their post-charge behavior over the actual amount by which they breached the FFP rules[14].

This situation has highlighted the complexities and controversies surrounding the enforcement of FFP rules in the Premier League, as well as the different strategies clubs may employ when facing potential sanctions.

Citations:
[1] https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/football-news/ffp-warning-issued-nottingham-forest-9041709
[2] https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11727/13097719/forest-extremely-disappointed-and-dismayed-at-four-point-deduction
[3] https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/football-news/nottingham-forest-ffp-relegation-fight-9172733
[4] https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/everton-forest-charges-premier-league-2887142
[5] https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/nottingham-forest-points-deduction-appoint-top-lawyer-stave-off-premier-league-punishment/bltf4ea9b69182e6b2e
[6] https://www.reddit.com/r/PremierLeague/comments/1b177gz/why_are_relegated_clubs_are_completely_forgotten/
[7] https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/football-news/sean-dyche-breaks-silence-everton-9133606
[8] https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/football-news/nottingham-forest-points-deduction-appeal-9173358
[9] https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/football-news/manager-speaks-out-nottingham-forest-9125655
[10] https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/everton-ffp-verdict-takeover-2903744
[11] https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/football-news/a-very-strong-argument-nottingham-9074988
[12] https://www.palatinate.org.uk/the-tricky-truth-behind-financial-fair-play/
[13] https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/jan/15/premier-league-charge-nottingham-forest-everton
[14] https://www.goodisonnews.com/2024/03/18/nottingham-forest-attacked-everton-in-ffp-hearing-before-points-deduction-claims-lawyer/
[15] https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/football-news/nottingham-forest-ffp-psr-breach-9099588
[16] https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/richard-masters-questioned-premier-league-28521344
[17] https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/nottingham-forest-given-four-point-deduction-financial-rules-breach-2024-03-18/
[18] https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/nottingham-forest-anger-boils-over-28743046
[19] https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11727/13097719/nottingham-forest-drop-into-premier-league-relegation-zone-after-four-point-deduction-for-psr-breach
[20] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLdgUiS17eA