EXCLUSIVE: Everton and the Premier League meet in SECRET to begin the club’s disciplinary hearing into alleged Financial Fair Play breaches – with the behind-closed-doors process set to conclude next week
- Everton’s disciplinary hearing into alleged FFP breaches began in secret this week
- The Toffees were charged by the Premier League in March and denied wrongdoing
- Listen to the latest episode of the Mail Sport podcast ‘It all begins’
Everton’s disciplinary hearing into the club’s alleged breach of Premier League spending rules is taking place in secret this week.
Mail Sport understands that the independent commission began on Tuesday, with Everton and the Premier League submitting opening proposals at a closed-door hearing that will conclude next week.
The Premier League is expected to publish the verdict and any sanctions imposed by the tribunal sometime next month without prior notice to the other clubs, but will be guided by the committee, which does not work to a specific time frame.
Such is the level of secrecy surrounding the trial that senior figures at Everton were unaware the hearing had started when Mail Sport contacted them earlier in the day.
Everton were charged by the Premier League in March with breaching Financial Fair Play rules by posting financial losses of almost £372m over previous years, compared to the league’s cap of £105m.
Everton’s disciplinary hearing into alleged breaches of Premier League spending rules began at a closed-door meeting on Tuesday and will conclude next week.
Everton were charged by the Premier League in March with breaching FFP rules after posting financial losses of almost £372 million in previous years, compared to a limit of £105 million
However, the club have strongly denied any wrongdoing and are confident they will be cleared as they claim they received allowances from the Premier League due to the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
If Everton is found guilty, the club will face a range of sanctions, including a fine, transfer embargo or points deduction, which could have a major impact on the relegation battle.
The case could also have huge financial implications for the club and impact its proposed sale to 777Partners, with Burnley, Leeds and Leicester threatening to sue Everton for £300m if found guilty.
Mail Sport revealed earlier this month that the three clubs had written a joint letter to the Premier League and 777 warning that they would press charges for lost revenue if Everton were found guilty on the grounds that the club only last season narrowly avoided relegation.
This could have huge implications for the club and impact its proposed sale to 777Partners, after owner Farhad Moshiri (above) agreed to sell his stake to the US investment company.