Everton and Nottingham Forest have received a severe warning: should they not abide by the Profit and Sustainability Regulations (PSR), they risk being demoted from the Premier League five days after the season ends.
The authorities have recently sanctioned the two Premier League teams and Championship promotion hopefuls Leicester, who were demoted the previous season, due to accusations of financial mismanagement.
Nottingham Forest was given a four-point punishment earlier this week, which causes them to automatically fall into the relegation zone and slip one point behind Luton in 17th place.
Everton was first given a 10-point penalty, which was then reduced to six on appeal. As a result, the Toffees are currently in 16th place, four points ahead of Forest in 18th.
Nonetheless, the Merseyside team may still lose further points if they are deemed to have violated the PSR if they are charged with another one next week.
The Premier League has established a deadline of May 24th for a final judgment about the penalties and the consideration of any appeals.
But since that day is around five days after the Premier League team is supposed to conclude, the two’s future may not be in their control, leaving the rest of the league, especially the teams that are close to them and also trying to avoid relegation, in a precarious situation.
Former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness called the Premier League’s ability to decide on relegation after the season ended a “laughing stock,” feeling that the competition’s integrity has been undermined by the officials.
Wyness, the former CEO of Everton from 2004 to 2009 and current owner of his own football consulting company, has referred to the Premier League as a “laughing stock” and feels that both the system and lawmakers bear a great deal of responsibility.
“It appears like each lawyer’s argument is being manufactured to achieve a certain goal. There’s no obvious structure, so it’s simply really confused,” he told Football Insider.
“Everything becomes a joke when it is allowed to be subjective.
“What matters most to clubs is what we are discussing. They have been demoted from the Premier League.
It’s difficult to fathom the mess they’re creating with the league table’s overall credibility. We are a source of amusement.
Wyness maintains that the situation at the bottom affects more than just Everton and Forest, arguing that it makes things confusing for everyone because the final positions can be decided after the season ends.
“At least two asterisks are present in the table now. We are aware that the standings may only be altered after the season, on May 24, in the event that Forest or Everton file an appeal.
“At least two asterisks are present in the table now. We are aware that the standings may only be altered after the season, on May 24, in the event that Forest or Everton file an appeal.
“It’s astounding.”
Between now and the end of the season, Sean Dyche and Nuno Espirito Santo can only concentrate on on-field issues and assisting in the achievement of as many successful outcomes as they can.
And even if they stay up, both teams run the possibility of losing a lot of their best players in an effort to balance the books and make sure they don’t face the same penalties again.
Everton will resume their bid for safety with a game at Bournemouth next Saturday, while Forest return to action on the same day, at home to Crystal Palace.
