(Credit: talkSPORT/ Imago)

Jacob Raw

Thu 26 March 2026 13:10, UK

Stefan Borson feels Everton are fighting an uphill battle should they choose to enter a legal contest with the Premier League over the sanction handed to Chelsea for financial misconduct.

It was reported on Wednesday that the Toffees were left feeling aggrieved at the Premier League’s decision to hand Chelsea a £10.75million fine on top of a one-year suspended transfer ban for financial misconduct.

Everton among other top-flight clubs feel the sanction was lenient, given it was over a matter of £47m in hidden payments to players and agents across a seven-year period.

The Toffees feel the hardest done by as they were given a total of eight points deduction for breaching Profit and Sustainability Rules by £19.5m, which almost resulted in their relegation.

Everton are actively seeking legal advice, as the Friedkin Group and Co. consider legally challenging the Premier League for the vast difference in punishment, but Borson doesn’t think that it’s a good idea.

Stefan Borson says he expects Everton to get ‘little answers’ from Premier League

Dan Friedkin could join forces with Evangelos Marinakis over the matter, with Nottingham Forest also reportedly feeling aggrieved following their previous points deduction for breaching PSR.

The Toffees are set to request an explanation from the Premier League for the sanction handed to Chelsea in comparison to their own points deduction, but they will also consider a legal challenge.

While speaking on talkSPORT this Thursday, finance expert Borson explained why it may be in the Friedkin Group’s best interests not to go down the route of challenging the Premier League.

Borson said: “In terms of challenging the [Chelsea] sanction agreement, it’s a pretty hopeless case for Everton. The Premier League board and club have [already] negotiated something they think is fair.

“Ultimately, it was ratified, and it’s now difficult to see how other clubs could unwind that sanction agreement.

“That doesn’t mean that Everton can’t ask further questions, I expect them to get little answers on further questions. But I think it’s reasonable for them to try; I just don’t think it’ll go anywhere in terms of them challenging it.”

The Toffees have not yet made a decision on whether they will take the matter further, and are in the same boat as Nottingham Forest.

What the probable outcome looks like at this stage

The Friedkin Group may think that there is a way for them to gain some compensation from the Premier League, if they were to be successful in a challenge against the Premier League.

But taking it up legally would come with its risks, as the Toffees could already be facing another setback with an ongoing arbitration claim from Burnley.

As Borson says, Everton are well within their rights to request an explanation for what they see as a lenient fine for Chelsea.

But at this stage, it seems like that’s the best that the Toffees will get, but they will have confidence in knowing that other Premier League clubs would most likely back them regarding a complaint about the Chelsea case.

It’s a developing story, and one to keep an eye on.