Everton hit with 10-point deduction, to be immediately appealed – journalist
Everton have been handed a 10-point deduction as a result of the independent commission hearing and are expected to “immediately” appeal the ruling, according to Joe Strange.
The Goal managing editor reported via Twitter on 17 November what he was hearing the outcome of the hearing was after the Premier League had referred the Toffees for a single alleged breach of profit and sustainability regulations.
It emerged during the hearing that the league were seeking up to 12-point deduction if the commission found in their favour [Telegraph, 12 October].
Strange wrote: “Hearing it’s a 10-point deduction for Everton, which will immediately be appealed.”
Heavy
This is clearly anything but a positive result for the club, even though an appeal was likely inevitable from either side whatever happened.
Therefore it could be some time yet before any punishment is actually finalised, if it does in fact stand at the eventual conclusion of the appeals process.
Thanks to the much-improved form under Sean Dyche of late this level of sanction is not necessarily the hammer blow it might have been in either of the previous two seasons, but it obviously hands him an uphill battle to regain ground.
As the Premier League table currently stands it wouldn’t even put Everton bottom as Burnley would still be below them on goal difference, showing that relegation could perhaps still be avoided either way.
The club had maintained throughout that they had not committed any infringement and would defend their case robustly.
The finding also comes with over 100 charges levelled against Manchester City, also denied, for which there is no end in sight over the process.
In other Everton news, it has emerged that a club holds rights of refusal over bids for a Toffees ace and offers must be run by them.