Everton’s appeal against the unprecedented 10-point deduction has now concluded. The club was ruled to have breached the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) and is now fighting the harshness of the penalty applied.
How Long Until We Learn The Result of Everton’s Appeal?
The Charges
The club was deemed to have operated with a £124.5 million loss over a three-year period. Leaving them £19.5 million over the allowed threshold.
According to the commissions report Everton’s board had accepted that they had overspent by £7.9 million over PSR’s allowed amount. The club were adamant that mitigating factors such as increased interest on stadium loans and failed sponsorships due to extraordinary circumstances shouldn’t count towards the losses for PSR.
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Immediately after the punishment was announced, the club released a statement in which they voiced their intent to appeal the decision. Within the statement, they outlined that they believe that “Both the harshness and severity of the sanction imposed … are neither fair nor reasonable.”
The Aftermath
The 10-point deduction forced the Toffees to fall from 14th to 19th in the league at the time. Finding themselves deep into a relegation battle, something that has plagued the club over the previous two seasons.
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Following the decision The Toffees went on to win four of their next five games lifting them out of the relegation zone. The players and fans seemingly banded together against the decision and the performances showed a team willing to fight. Since then the form has dropped and Everton are now sitting 18th, one point from safety.
The Appeal
On Wednesday, January 31 the appeal started its three-day process. The man leading the case for Everton is Laurence Rabinowitz KC, considered one of the best in commercial litigation. The hire is considered by many to show the club’s intent to minimise the punishment set out by the commission.
With the appeal, the legal team is unable to present any new evidence to support the case. However, they are able to appeal the severity of the punishment which is the largest in Premier League history. Something the club stated to be “wholly disproportionate and unjust.”
The Outcome
Everton and their fans will have to wait until mid-February to hear a decision on the appeal. But this isn’t the only case the club has to deal with, they are now fighting a second breach of PSR. Contesting that there is a “clear deficiency in the Premier League’s rules” as the club is being charged for years in which they have already been sanctioned and on which this appeal is based.
