The courts have ruled that Everton will face relegation fighting due to their failure to comply with the Premier League's financial rules. The landmark decision has sparked concern in England, as other clubs, including Manchester City and Chelsea, are also under investigation for alleged financial irregularities.
Everton, on this occasion,is facing a loss of 10 points, which puts them second-to-last in the standings and faces the difficult task of avoiding relegation. However, this club would not be alone in this situation.
Both Manchester City, the current leader in the league, and Chelsea, tenth in the standings, could join this battle. According to British newspaper The Times, both clubs could face a 30-point deduction as a disciplinary measure, which would put them at the bottom of the table and put them at risk of relegation.
So far, there have been no official statements about these two additional cases. However, both institutions face multiple complaints for possible economic irregularities and will have to remain vigilant in the coming days.
In response to the penalty, Everton issued a strong statement expressing their rejection of the decision and announcing their intention to appeal the ruling.
What Everton's statement says
Goodison Park, the home of Everton. (Reuter)
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Everton Football Club is both surprised and disappointed by the Premier League Commission's decision. The Club considers that the Commission has imposed a totally disproportionate and unfair sporting sanction on us," the statement said.
The club reaffirmed its intention to appeal the decision and stressed its belief in the transparency of the information provided to the Premier League. Everton argues that it has always respected the integrity of the process and denies allegations of lack of good faith made by the Premier League during the investigation.
In conclusion, Everton contends that the severity of the sanction does not fairly reflect the evidence presented and will closely follow decisions in similar cases on the Premier League's Sustainability and Benefits Rules. The club is pledging not to comment further on the matter until the appeal process is concluded.