Everton drop appeal over two-point penalty for breaching financial rules

Everton have dropped their appeal over a two-point deduction for breaching Premier League profitability and sustainability rules after judging their prospects of success remote.

Everton lodged the appeal after suffering a second points deduction of the season on 8 April for a £16.6m overspend up to 2023. They were previously docked 10 points, reduced to six on appeal, for a £19.5m breach up to 2022.

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An independent commission was due to begin hearing Everton’s appeal on Monday but club lawyers, having reviewed the reasons for the rejection of Nottingham Forest’s attempt to overturn a four-point deduction, have decided not to proceed. Everton have secured their Premier League status this season thanks to a stirring finish that has brought Sean Dyche the manager of the month award for April.

Everton face another hearing into their 2023 PSR breach and the possibility of a third points deduction after the last commission was unable to rule on a dispute between the club and the Premier League over stadium interest payments. The Premier League alleges that Everton were not entitled to capitalise £23.46m in stadium interest payments in their accounts, an argument the club reject.

A club statement on Friday said: “Everton Football Club has withdrawn its appeal of the decision by a Premier League independent commission to impose a two-point deduction on the club for a breach of the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules for the accounting period ending in June 2023.”