Everton have officially appealed their two-point deduction for breaching the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), according to the BBC.
This decision to appeal throws the relegation battle wide open, potentially extending the drama beyond the final match of the season.
The Toffees are 16th in the table, two points clear of the drop zone before they clash with Chelsea tonight, and are reportedly confident in their appeal.
Everton successfully reduced an initial 10-point deduction to six in February. However, the latest appeal process could drag on until May 24, five days after their final game against Arsenal.
This extended timeline is the same situation Nottingham Forest are in. They are also embroiled in an appeal regarding similar financial breaches.
Both teams now face an uncertain end to the season, with the possibility of relegation hinging on verdicts delivered after the final whistle blows on the Premier League campaign.
Clubs such as Luton Town, currently in the relegation zone, are frustrated by the lack of clarity.
Manager Rob Edwards’ side would be eyeing potential points deductions for Everton or Forest as a lifeline to secure their top-flight status, but nothing is set in stone.
Everton received the two-point deduction for exceeding permitted spending limits by £16.6 million. PSR permits clubs to lose £105m over three years.
The Merseyside club fiercely criticised the inconsistency of Premier League sanctions, expressing concern about a lack of transparency.
They will hope for a repeat of their previous appeal, where legal errors were identified in the initial ruling.
To make matters worse, Everton could even face more points deduction due to interest costs associated with the club’s new Bramley-Moore Dock Stadium.
However, that issue is unlikely to be resolved before the end of the season.
The coming weeks promise to be a nerve-wracking wait for Everton, Forest and other relegation-threatened clubs.
The fight for survival may very well extend beyond the final curtain of the Premier League season.
