EVERTON have had their 10-point deduction for breaching financial fair play regulations reduced to six after a successful independent appeal hearing.
The new verdict means that the Merseyside team move up to 15th in the table and increase their gap to five points above Luton in the relegation zone.
The Toffees were originally charged in November after they were found to have spent £19.5m more than they were allocated to over the 20/21 Premier League season.
They charge meant that they were initially deducted 10 points, pushing them into the relegation zone.
The club appealed the decision, where the appeal board found that the original commission made legal errors, which saw their sanctions reduced to six points.
Following the new verdict, a club statement has said they are satisfied by the decision.
It read: “While the club is still digesting the appeal board’s decision, we are satisfied our appeal has resulted in a reduction in the points sanction.
“We understand the appeal board considered the 10-point deduction originally imposed to be inappropriate when assessed against the available benchmarks of which the club made the commission aware, including the position under the relevant EFL regulations, and the nine-point deduction that is imposed under the Premier League’s own rules in the event of insolvency.”
However, this may not be the end of it for Everton as they also face fresh cases for the same charge but this time for the assessment period ending with the 22/23 season.
Although, this time they are not alone, with Nottingham Forest also allegedly breaching the same rules.
Forest’s hearing will take place between 7-8 March, whilst the Toffees date is still unknown.
If Everton are also found guilty of these charges, it could mean that they are deducted more points.
