Everton And Nottingham Forest Are Hit With FFP Charges

Everton and Nottingham Forest have both been charged with violating Premier League spending regulations.

Everton were punished 10 points earlier in the season for failing to comply with financial fair play laws, and they have been charged again for their most recent accounts, along with Forest.

Everton is said to be enraged by the latest punishment and will challenge the decision, as they did the first time.

“Everton Football Club acknowledges the Premier League’s decision to refer a breach of Profit & Sustainability rules (PSR) for the assessment period ending with the 2022/23 season to an independent Premier League commission,” a statement read.

“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.”

It concludes: “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.”

Because FFP calculations are done over three years ending on June 30, the Johnson transaction will be counted for 2021-2024 rather than 2020-23.

Clubs are allowed to incur financial losses of up to £105 million over three years, with Forest declaring an annual deficit of £45.6 million in their most recent reports.

Forest claims they could have sold Johnson to Brentford in June for almost £30 million, putting them in a better financial position for the 2020-23 season but leaving them nearly £20 million out of pocket overall.

Accepting roughly £50 million for Johnson in August, they claim, was preferable to accepting £30 million earlier in the summer.

A Forest spokesman said: “Nottingham Forest acknowledges the statement from the Premier League confirming that the club has today been charged with a breach of the league’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules.

“The club intends to continue to cooperate fully with the Premier League on this matter and is confident of a speedy and fair resolution.”

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli