Everton’s case over an alleged breach of profit and sustainability rules, which has been referred to an independent commission by the Premier League, is highly unlikely to deliver any verdict before the end of this season and the reality of the situation is that the issue is set to take many months to resolve.
With two games left to play of the current Premier League season, Everton currently lie 17th in the table, just one point and one place above the drop zone as they bid to avoid what would be the club’s first relegation in 72 years.
An article in The Times stated that a group of Premier League clubs — understood to be Leeds United, Leicester City and Nottingham Forest, who are all still fighting to stay up, plus Southampton who have already gone down – have failed in a bid to have the Blues' charge for breaching Financial Fair Play rules fast-tracked so that it is dealt with before the end of the season, but have distanced themselves from reports that they have lodged legal papers with the league this season.
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The matter is now out of Premier League hands and the ECHO understands that Everton have not received any guidance from the independent commission over potential timescales. Previous FFP cases in the Championship have taken between 18 months to two years to be concluded and club sources acknowledge that the Blues' finances are likely to be more complex.
The Premier League has charged Everton with breaching its rules for the period ending season 2021/22, although it has not gone into specifics. There is no set sanction should the Blues be found guilty as no case has ever been heard before in the top flight.
Following the Premier League’s announcement on Friday, March 24 that they were referring the club to an independent commission, Everton released their own statement which read: “Everton Football Club is disappointed to hear of the Premier League’s decision to refer an allegation of a breach of Profit & Sustainability regulations to an independent commission for review.
“The club strongly contests the allegation of non-compliance and together with its independent team of experts is entirely confident that it remains compliant with all financial rules and regulations. Everton is prepared to robustly defend its position to the commission.
“The club has, over several years, provided information to the Premier League in an open and transparent manner and has consciously chosen to act with the utmost good faith at all times. The club will not be making any further comment at this time.”
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