Everton have been docked 10 points, the heaviest punishment ever handed to a Premier League team, for breaching financial rules, opening them up to the prospect of paying tens of millions in compensation to a group of other clubs.
Leeds, Leicester, Burnley and Southampton, who were relegated in recent seasons while Everton stayed up, have threatened previously to take legal action and a ruling from David Phillips KC in May agreed the clubs could apply for compensation through the Premier League if Everton were found to have breached financial rules.