Everton make subtle Man City & Chelsea dig as record 10-point deduction handed out ahead of Man Utd clash

Everton have made a subtle reference to Manchester City and Chelsea, after the Toffees were handed a 10-point deduction by the Premier League.

It was confirmed on Friday that the Merseyside club received the harshest penalty ever administered by the league, with an independent commission determining that Everton had breached the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

“Following a five-day hearing last month, the Commission determined that Everton FC’s PSR Calculation for the relevant period resulted in a loss of £124.5million, as contended by the Premier League, which exceeded the threshold of £105million permitted under the PSRs,” the Premier League said via a statement. “The Commission concluded that a sporting sanction in the form of a 10-point deduction should be imposed. That sanction has immediate effect.”

The decision comes in the midst of City’s ongoing charges from the league. The Premier League champions were charged with 115 counts of breaching financial laws back in February, accusations the club strenuously deny. The case has also been referred to an independent commission, and is unlikely to be concluded in the next few years.

Meanwhile, reports in the Guardian this week reported that Chelsea are also under investigation for alleged breaches relating to financial fair play.

Following Friday’s ruling, Everton appeared to reference both cases as they reacted to the 10-point deduction. “Everton Football Club is both shocked and disappointed by the ruling of the Premier League’s Commission,” the club said in a statement.

“The Club believes that the Commission has imposed a wholly disproportionate and unjust sporting sanction. The Club has already communicated its intention to appeal the decision to the Premier League. The appeal process will now commence and the Club’s case will be heard by an Appeal Board appointed pursuant to the Premier League’s rules in due course.

“Everton maintains that it has been open and transparent in the information it has provided to the Premier League and that it has always respected the integrity of the process. The Club does not recognise the finding that it failed to act with the utmost good faith and it does not understand this to have been an allegation made by the Premier League during the course of proceedings. Both the harshness and severity of the sanction imposed by the Commission are neither a fair nor a reasonable reflection of the evidence submitted.

“The Club will also monitor with great interest the decisions made in any other cases concerning the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules.”

The 10 docked points leaves Everton in the relegation zone and on just four points after 12 games. Yet, surprisingly, a win in the Toffees' next match - at home to Manchester United - could see them climb out of the bottom three.