Premier League hit Everton, Nottingham with FFP charges and points deduction threat

Everton and Nottingham Forest have both been charged with breaching Premier League profitability and sustainability regulations and could face a points deduction

Both clubs were told on Monday that they might have broken the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules over how much money a club is permitted to lose. If a club breaks these Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules, they could have to pay money or even suffer from a points deduction.

The rules say that clubs in the Premier League can only lose up to £105 million over three years. Everton have already been deducted 10 points this season for breaking these rules, and now they’re in trouble again. Nottingham Forest haven’t had this problem before. Right now, Everton are just above the relegation zone despite their points deduction in November.

Everton said in a statement: “Everton Football Club acknowledges the Premier League’s decision to refer a breach of Profit and Sustainability rules (PSR) for the assessment period ending with the 2022/23 season to an independent Premier League commission. “This relates to a period which covers seasons 2019/20, 2020/21, 2021/22 and 2022/23. It therefore includes financial periods (2019/20, 2020/21 and 2021/22) for which the club has already received a 10-point sanction. The club is currently appealing that sanction.

“The Premier League does not have guidelines which prevent a club being sanctioned for alleged breaches in financial periods which have already been subject to punishment, unlike other governing bodies, including the EFL. As a result and because of the Premier League’s new commitment to deal with such matters “in-season” the club is in a position where it has had no option but to submit a PSR calculation which remains subject to change, pending the outcome of the appeal.

“The club must now defend another Premier League complaint which includes the very same financial periods for which it has already been sanctioned, before that appeal has even been heard. The Club takes the view that this results from a clear deficiency in the Premier League’s rules.

“Everton can assure its fans that it will continue to defend its position during the ongoing appeal and, should it be required to do so, at any future commission and that the impact on supporters will be reflected as part of that process.”

Forest have been doing better since Nuno Espirito Santo became their boss last month, winning against big teams like Newcastle and Manchester United. They’re now a bit safer from dropping out of the Premier League, although a points deduction would of course still be unwelcome.

Forest’s owner, Evangelos Marinakis, has spent loads on new players, with Morgan Gibbs-White costing the most in a £35million move from Wolves in 2022. They sold Brennan Johnson to try and fix their money problems, but it that transfer came too late to save them from being charged.