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The season at Everton FC is also disappointing in terms of sport

Photo: Jane Stokes / Pro Sports Images / IMAGO

A sigh of relief at Everton FC: Despite proven violations of the Premier League's financial regulations, the former European Cup winner only has six points deducted instead of the original ten and thus does not fall into the relegation zone.

The league announced the decision in the appeal process against the sanction imposed last November.

As a result, Everton moves back up to 15th place in the table with 25 points.

An independent commission of inquiry had punished Everton because the club made more losses than it had previously stated.

According to the Premier League's sustainability and profitability rules, English teams are allowed to make a maximum loss of 105 million pounds (equivalent to 119 million euros) over a three-year period.

"During the proceedings, the club admitted that it violated the PSR for the period up to the end of the 2021/22 season, but the extent of the violation remained disputed," the league said in a statement at the time.

"The Commission found that Everton FC's PSR calculation for the relevant period resulted in a loss of £124.5 million, as claimed by the Premier League, which exceeded the threshold of £105 million permitted under the PSRs," continued the league.

The club appealed against the original point deduction, which it described as “completely disproportionate and unfair”.

"Everton maintains that it has been open and transparent with the information it provided to the Premier League and that it has always respected the integrity of the process," said a club statement in November.

"Both the severity and the severity of the sanction imposed by the Commission do not reflect fairly or adequately the evidence presented."

The club announced that the accusation that Everton “did not act in good faith” has now been refuted.

"This decision, together with the reduction of the point deduction, was an incredibly important, essential point for the club in the appeal," wrote Everton.

Another lawsuit is hanging over Everton

After the ten-point deduction, the club fell to second-to-last place.

With four wins in a row, Everton jumped to 16th place, but after nine games without a win in a row, the club found itself back in the relegation battle.

Now Everton is five points ahead of the relegation place again.

Everton faces another penalty.

In January, the Premier League lodged another complaint with the Commission of Inquiry, again alleging a breach of PSR rules.

The process is still ongoing and Everton could be deducted further points.

Then the risk of relegation would be greater again.

The future of Everton FC is uncertain anyway.

The club is in lengthy takeover talks with the US investment fund 777 Partners.

The company also owns shares in Hertha BSC.

Everton would also like to move to a new stadium for the 2025/2026 season.

Manchester City also has to answer for over 100 violations of financial rules.

The league's executive director, Richard Masters, remained tight-lipped last month saying a date had been set for the hearing.

ast/Reuters/sid/dpa