Everton expects any points sanction for a second violation of the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules to be less than six points, according to Paul Joyce.
The credible journalist writes on The Times website (5 April) that the Toffees had defended their case to the independent panel over their second charge.
The club contended that double jeopardy could be in play after receiving a six-point deduction earlier this season for charges from the previous season, while Nottingham Forest suffered a four-point deduction for charges this season.
“The club are due to discover next week what punishment it will receive for a second breach of the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR),” he stated in the letter.
“They have already been docked six points (reduced from ten on appeal) for breaking spending rules in 2021-22 and there is an expectation at Everton that another sanction for 2022-23 will be lower, after arguing that double jeopardy should apply.”
Everton must hope for mercy from independent panel
Receiving a double punishment for the same offences in the same season would surely be seen as unfair by anyone with common sense.
Obviously, they are two separate charges, but they are linked in the same way and making Everton a guinea pig for their lack of governance on their own league is something the Premier League shouldn’t be doing.
That is not to argue that the club should not be penalized, but if Nottingham Forest only received a four-point deduction for their first offense, but Everton received ten, which was later reduced to six on appeal, then something even lower would surely suffice.
Ultimately, the Toffees will be punished on the field for the folly that Farhad Moshiri and the board approved, despite the fact that it provided no sporting advantage.
The club has been made an example of, but with talk of points deductions being repealed ahead of the next season, it appears that they want to strike them as severely as possible while they can.