Everton, Nottingham Forest face points deduction after being charged for breaching EPL spending rules
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Everton have already been handed a separate 10-point deduction this year over their finances in the 2020-21 season.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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LONDON – Nottingham Forest and Everton are facing a points deduction after the clubs were charged by the English Premier League for a breach of its profitability and sustainability rules, the league said on Jan 15.
Everton have already been handed a separate 10-point deduction in 2023
Both clubs have now been referred to the chair of the judicial panel, the Premier League said, who will appoint an independent commission to determine the appropriate sanction.
“Everton FC and Nottingham Forest FC have each confirmed to the Premier League that they are in breach of the league’s profitability and sustainability rules,” a statement said. “This is as a result of sustaining losses above the permitted thresholds for the assessment period ending season 2022-23.”
According to the Premier League’s financial fair play regulations, clubs are permitted to lose a maximum of £105 million (S$178 million) over a three-year period.
“Everton can assure their fans that they will continue to defend their position during the ongoing appeal and, should they be required to do so, at any future commission – and that the impact on supporters will be reflected as part of that process,” said the Toffees, who are now 17th in the standings.
The Merseyside club have filed an appeal against their initial points deduction, which they labelled “wholly disproportionate and unjust”.
Forest, who have not previously run afoul of the regulations, become the third club to have been charged by the Premier League, following Everton and champions Manchester City.
“The club intend to continue to cooperate fully with the Premier League on this matter and are confident of a speedy and fair resolution,” said Forest, who are 15th.
The club were in the second-tier Championship until 2022, when clubs are permitted a maximum loss of £39 million across three seasons, or £13 million per season, meaning their permissible losses over the last three campaigns would add up to £61 million.
Upon their promotion ahead of the 2022-23 season, Forest broke the record for most transfers (21) by a Premier League club in the close-season window.
In 2023, City were also referred to an independent commission over more than 100 alleged breaches of finance rules since the club were acquired by the Abu Dhabi-based City Football Group in 2008. No verdict has yet been reached.
Clubs in England’s top flight have been docked points before, with Middlesbrough having three points deducted in 1997 when they failed to fulfil a fixture, while Portsmouth were given a nine-point penalty in 2010 when the financially-troubled club entered administration.
REUTERS, AFP
