Chelsea and Manchester City find themselves in the ominous shadow of potential relegation after Everton’s unprecedented ten-point deduction for violating Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules.
This drastic penalty has sent ripples of concern across the Premier League, especially for clubs currently under investigation for similar financial offenses.
UK legal sports experts weigh in on the situation, suggesting that if found guilty, both Manchester City, facing 115 FFP charges since January, and Chelsea, currently under scrutiny for transfers during Roman Abramovich’s tenure, could potentially face the dire consequence of relegation.
Stefan Borson, a prominent sports lawyer, remarked, “Ten points for Everton feels harsh for a straightforward Financial Fair Play breach. But it reinforces that sanctions against City and now Chelsea will be potentially relegation-inducing,” as reported by The Sun UK.
While Manchester City has consistently denied all allegations, deploying top legal representatives, Chelsea disclosed issues of illegal financial dealings from Abramovich’s era and awaits the outcome of investigations spanning multiple years.
The three-man commission leading Everton’s case emphasized the severity of the breach, citing Everton's irresponsible financial management and failure to operate within the agreed threshold.
“Everton’s culpability is great. This was a serious breach that requires a significant penalty. We cannot ignore the fact that the failure to comply with the regime was the result of Everton irresponsibly taking a chance that things would turn out positively. Further, Everton was less than frank in its dealings with the Premier League over the stadium interest issue. Everton failed to manage its finances so as to operate within the generous threshold,” they added.
Everton’s interim chief, Colin Chong, has vowed that the club will appeal the decision, emphasizing its impact on both the club and its passionate fanbase.
