Shamoon Hafez, BBC Sport
Everton will still be reeling from Friday’s bombshell news of being deducted 10 points after falling foul of the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability (P&S) rules.
English top-flight clubs are permitted to lose £105m over three years, and an independent commission found Everton’s losses up to the 2021-22 season amounted to £124.5m.
It is the biggest sporting sanction in Premier League history and leaves Sean Dyche’s side second bottom on goal difference with four points.
The club immediately signalled their intent to appeal the decision and BBC Sport understands this will formally be done sometime this week.
The sanction has also raised more questions than it has provided answers as it could affect the ongoing takeover of the club from Miami-based investment firm 777 Partners.
Sources told BBC Sport that the decision of the hearing had been factored in by the Americans – but were they expecting such a harsh decision?
Clubs such as Burnley and Leeds dropped the threat of legal action against the Toffees in July 2022 after being advised that they complied with P&S rules, so could that now be revived? If so, can 777 afford to pay for it? Will Farhad Moshiri be forced to fork out?
Meanwhile, the mayor of Liverpool Steve Rotheram has written to Premier League chief executive Richard Masters regarding the “wholly disproportionate” and “unprecedented” points deduction.
Rotheram said:, external “While I understand, and indeed support, the importance of maintaining discipline and upholding the integrity of the sport, it is crucial to ensure that any punitive measures are proportionate and just. I do not believe that this punishment fits the crime.
“I completely support the club’s appeal and would urge you to take a more lenient approach and consider alternative forms of punishment that do not unfairly penalise the club’s players and supporters.”
