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Recently acquired by 777 Partners, the owner of Vasco SAF, the Liverpool-based club Everton has confirmed on Friday that it has been penalized by the Premier League with a ten-point deduction in the English Championship table. The reason behind this action was a violation of the league’s financial fair play rules, pertaining to the club’s profitability and sustainability. Everton, now under the ownership of 777 Partners, the parent company of Vasco SAF, has expressed its intention to appeal the decision.
With this unprecedented punishment in Premier League history, Everton has dropped to the penultimate position in the tournament, holding only four points.
The Liverpool club has swiftly responded to the penalty, criticizing the Premier League’s independent commission for a decision they deem “disproportionate and unfair.”
“Everton Football Club is shocked and disappointed by the decision of the Premier League Commission. The Club believes the Commission has imposed a wholly disproportionate and unfair sporting sanction. The Club has notified the intention to appeal the decision to the Premier League. The appeal process will commence now, and the Club’s case will be heard by an Appeals Board appointed in accordance with Premier League rules in due course. Everton asserts that it has been open and transparent in the information provided to the Premier League and has always respected the integrity of the process. The Club does not recognize the finding that it acted in bad faith and does not understand this to have been an allegation made by the Premier League during the course of the process. Both the harshness and the severity of the sanction imposed by the Commission are not a fair or reasonable reflection of the evidence presented. The Club will also monitor with great interest the decisions made in any other cases relating to the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules.”
Profitability and Sustainability Rules
Premier League teams undergo an annual assessment to ensure compliance with the league’s profitability and sustainability rules. According to these regulations, clubs can incur a maximum loss of £105 million over three years. However, Everton reported losses of £370 million between 2018 and 2021.
Prior to Everton, only two teams had faced point deductions in the Premier League. Middlesbrough lost three points for not participating in a match against Blackburn in the 1996/1997 season, while Portsmouth suffered a nine-point deduction in 2010 after entering administration. Both teams were eventually relegated at the end of their respective seasons.