Everton Football Club could face an unprecedented start to the next Premier League season by potentially opening on minus points. This situation arises from a further hearing set to be held in the summer, following their latest two-point deduction. The hearing is related to a dispute between Everton and the Premier League over stadium loan interest payments. If additional points deductions are adjudicated this summer, they will be applied to next season’s standings, marking the first time in Premier League history a team could begin a campaign with a negative points total.
The club has already experienced the highest ever Premier League points deduction earlier this season, initially stripped of 10 points before the punishment was reduced to six on appeal. The further potential deduction, which centers around an additional £6.5 million the league believes should be counted as a loss, could be up to one point. This situation could lead to further legal complications, especially depending on how the current campaign concludes.
Moreover, Everton might face a third profit and sustainability charge if they do not sell players as soon as the season ends, potentially exacerbating their predicament. The club’s position is precarious, having dropped to 16th and only two points above the relegation zone following the latest points deduction, although they have a game in hand over Nottingham Forest and Luton Town below them. Everton’s performance has been lackluster, with only one win in the top flight since the start of 2024.
This series of events underscores the financial and regulatory challenges Everton faces, particularly concerning the new stadium at Bramley Moore Dock, which is at the heart of the unresolved dispute over spending. The club and its fans are in a difficult position, with any positive news often quickly overshadowed by negative developments. As the season progresses, Everton’s management and players must navigate these challenges to ensure their place in the top flight and address the potential implications of starting the next season with a points deficit[20].
Citations:
[1] https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13010180/everton-deducted-10-points-by-the-premier-league
[2] https://www.si.com/fannation/soccer/futbol/news/everton-hit-with-biggest-points-penalty-in-premier-league-history
[3] https://www.fctables.com/teams/everton-184479/
[4] https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2023/12/1/everton-file-appeal-against-10-point-deduction-by-premier-league
[5] https://apnews.com/article/everton-premier-league-points-deduction-finances-e5059e11494a8cb35c2d1e7dc5a62e8a
[6] https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/leicester-premier-league-points-deduction-32412305
[7] https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/news/man-city-list-ffp-charges-28841373
[8] https://www.sportlawmusings.com/post/analyzing-everton-s-missing-10-points-the-premier-league-commission-s-decision
[9] https://theathletic.com/5198425/2024/01/13/premier-league-ffp-financial-fair-play/
[10] https://theesk.org/2024/03/24/the-reality-of-the-conditional-minded-to-approve-requirements/
[11] https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13041990/premier-league-financial-fair-play-rules-explained-what-restrictions-are-there-on-clubs-spending-what-they-want
[12] https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11712/13099943/leicester-city-could-be-hit-with-bigger-points-deduction-than-nottingham-forest
[13] https://theathletic.com/5071224/2023/11/18/everton-10-point-penalty-explained/
[14] https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/68273436
[15] https://theathletic.com/5194664/2024/01/12/everton-takeover-football-west-brom-news/
[16] https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league-efl-leicester-ffp-points-deduction-2947497
[17] https://www.thestadiumbusiness.com/2023/11/17/everton-reports-claim-stadium-costs-led-to-10-point-deduction/
[18] https://talksport.com/football/1526849/premier-league-new-rules-yellow-red-cards-suspensions/
[19] https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/everton-facing-further-punishment-for-breaking-epl-financial-rules
[20] https://www.football.london/premier-league/premier-league-launch-new-ffp-28764858