18 October 2023 , 20:44
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The independent commission, which will hear a case against Everton relating to Premier League Profit and Sustainability regulations, is underway, with preliminary hearings taking place this week.
In a surprise move, initial submissions have already begun in a behind closed doors hearing, with the commission set to hear evidence from the Merseyside club and the Premier League in the next fortnight. Everton had expected the hearing to begin next week, but are happy the disciplinary process has begun, with the club said to be ‘confident’ they will be cleared of any wrongdoing.
The P&S regulations state that the limit to financial losses over a three year period for all top flight clubs is set at £105m, while Everton have posted a deficit of close to £400m during the period under scrutiny.
But Everton will argue their losses are explainable under agreed concessions relating to Covid losses, and have lined up a series of financial experts to back their case. The club will argue they received concessions from the Premier League over these losses.
The hearings are likely to conclude by the end of next week, but the Premier League will not publish the findings of the commission until next month at the earliest. But the verdict could take even longer, with the independent body set up to hear the case not given any deadlines to decide on their conclusions.
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If found guilty there are a number of possible penalties open to the Premier League to sanction the club under their regulations, with spending restrictions, fines, transfer embargoes and even points deductions open to the ruling body.
And the Premier League has also received pressure from clubs who believe Everton benefited from breaking the rules over the past two seasons by escaping relegation, with a threat to sue the league still open if they are found guilty.