Premier League questioned by top-flight clubs over decision to charge Everton

The Premier League is facing pressing questions from top-tier clubs over its decision to charge Everton with breaking spending rules just nine months after insisting they had no case to answer.

sports mail learned that Premier League executives told clubs at a shareholder meeting last March that there were no concerns about potential breaches at Goodison Park, while at a later meeting in the summer they were told it would be allowed Everton sign players during the transfer. window while working with the Premier League to ensure they were compliant.

Everton were surprised to be charged with spending violations on Friday afternoon as they have been submitting all major financial transactions, such as new signings and player contracts, to the Premier League for approval for two years, but other clubs too. they are frustrated by the timing of the charges. , which could have an impact on the relegation battle for the second season in a row.

Burnley and Leeds threatened legal action against the Premier League over their alleged failure to address Everton’s extravagance last May, but a potential £200m claim failed to materialize after they received assurances their spending was permissible due to covid allowances.

While there was never any real prospect of Everton being stripped of points and relegated last season, there is considerable anger at other clubs that the issue was not addressed last summer, with the result that no sporting sanctions will apply this campaign. neither.

Sean Dyche’s side are in a relegation battle on the pitch, but also face problems off it.

Sean Dyche’s side remain mired in relegation trouble, just two points clear of the bottom three, and any deductions this season may have sent them back to the Championship.

“Everton’s charge is very surprising,” said an executive from another club. sports mail. “We sat down in front of the Premier League around March last year and were told categorically there was no case to answer.

Then in the summer we were told that Everton could sign players as they were working together with the league to stay on the right side of the line, and their Covid losses enforced them. The Premier League raised these points in open meetings and also held private meetings with individual clubs that had raised concerns.

Farhad Moshiri (left) and Bill Kenwright (right) have faced calls from supporters to resign.

There have been several protests from Everton fans against the board this season

The Premier League’s decision to charge Everton is based on the 2021/22 season accounts they received on March 1, but the alleged overspending covers a four-year period from 2018/19 to 2021/12. Under Premier League rules, clubs can only lose £105m over a three-year period, but after the pandemic the two Covid-affected seasons were put together and averaged to arrive at the three-year figure.

Everton’s most recently published accounts for 2020/21 saw him lose £120.9m, taking the three-year loss figure to £371.8m, but they were approved by the Premier League due to Covid allocations. The club is stunned to have been charged despite having continued to work closely with the Premier League and agreed to cut spending.

Brazilian striker Richarlison was sold for £60m to Tottenham last June and Everton’s losses in their 2021/22 accounts are understood to be much lower than in previous years, with informed sources estimating them at between 50 and 70. million pounds sterling.

Everton rushed through the £60m sale of Brazilian striker Richarlison to Tottenham before the end of June last year, which will have helped offset these losses.

Everton are the second Premier League club accused of breaching financial rules in as many months.

There is strong sentiment at Everton and other clubs that the Premier League’s actions have been heavily influenced by a desire to show the government that they are capable of enforcing its financial rules and regulating the sport while seeking to limit the reach of the new regulator. independent. , whose imminent arrival was confirmed in a White Paper issued last month.

Everton are the second Premier League club to be charged with breaking financial rules in as many months after Manchester City after 30 years in which no club has been charged.

City’s 101 extraordinary charges were issued the week before the government published the independent regulator’s White Paper, which the club said was no coincidence.

In another stunning moment, Premier League chief executive Richard Masters will appear before a hearing of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport’s Select Committee on sports governance on Tuesday, when he will be questioned by MPs.