If Everton is found guilty of breaking the Premier League’s financial regulations in 2021–2022—they could lose a lot of ground.
The club reported astounding losses of nearly £372 million over a three-year period, more than £250 million more than what the Premier League’s guidelines allow. An independent commission is currently handling the case.
The commission will decide the penalty; it may recommend a fine, a transfer ban, or a deduction of up to 12 points for Everton.
That point deduction this season would leave them with a total of minus five, but what would have happened to Everton in the previous three seasons?
Last year, Everton narrowly avoided relegation in a campaign that saw Frank Lampard sacked for Sean Dyche.
They ended up finishing in 17th place on 36 points, just two points above the drop zone.
Had they been awarded a 12-point penalty, they would have secured the lowest possible position in the Premier League standings, sparing Leicester City from relegation.
This would have meant they finished below Southampton and Leeds United as well.
Following a brief period as interim manager under Duncan Ferguson, Lampard succeeded Rafa Benitez as manager for the 2021–2022 season.
Everton had 39 points at the end, which was more than they had last year, but the 12 point deduction would have meant that Everton would have been sent down once more.
With Leeds at 38 points, Burnley would have made it through if the Toffees had dropped to 18th place with 27 points.
Nonetheless, Everton would not have dropped if they had been docked points for the 2020–21 campaign, as they finished with 59 points, in 10th place.
The penalty would have seen them drop only one place to 11th, below Aston Villa.
