Everton, an institution of the Premier League, are in serious trouble. Not just because of their underwhelming results on the pitch, but because they are now staring at a significant points deduction.
Recent reports have suggested the Premier League is demanding a heavy punishment for the Merseyside club if they are found guilty of breaching Financial Fair Play rules, possibly resulting in a hefty 12-point deduction for the Toffees.
Having only narrowly survived in the Premier League in the last two seasons, such a significant punishment could well see Everton finally relegated, and it certainly would have done in the last two campaigns.
While a decision is unlikely to be made before the end of the year, here is how the Premier League table would look if Everton received a 12-point deduction.
What are the charges against Everton?
Having allegedly breached FFP rules and regulations, an independent commission has now been tasked with evaluating Everton's case. While the Premier League want to hand out a strict 12-point deduction, it's the commission that will decide what punishment Everton will receive.
Everton are believed to have made a loss of £371.8m while only being permitted to record a loss of no more than £105m by the Premier League. As a result, the Toffees could be in big trouble.
Everton have denied any wrongdoing, claiming they have worked within FFP rules and that exemptions such as the pandemic have contributed to their significant financial losses.
The Merseyside club are in the middle of a potential takeover at present, with Farhad Moshiri working on a sale to American private investment firm 777 Partners. While talks are expected to continue despite this potential punishment, the company still need to pass the Premier League's 'fit and proper persons test' to complete their takeover.
It's believed the independent commission will make a decision by the end of 2023. It's possible that Everton receive a lesser points deduction or even just a large fine, but the uncertainty hanging over the club will likely take its toll on Sean Dyche and his players.
What would the Premier League table look like if Everton get a points deduction?
At present, Everton sit 16th in the Premier League table after their weekend Merseyside derby defeat to Liverpool. The Toffees had made a slight recovery with wins over Brentford and Bournemouth after a dismal start to the campaign, but they have still only accrued seven points from nine matches.
If they were to be hit with a 12-point deduction, that would move Dyche's side on to -5 points. Remarkably, they would still be only six points off bottom-placed Sheffield United, but it would place them ten points off safety as things stand.
With West Ham United, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City in their next ten league matches, things could look significantly worse for Everton by Boxing Day.
Bottom half of Premier League table if Everton are deducted 12 points
Have Premier League teams been deducted points before?
Only two clubs in Premier League history have been deducted points in the past: Middlesbrough in 1996/97 and Portsmouth in 2009/10.
Middlesbrough were docked three points during the '96/97 season for failing to fulfil a Premier League encounter with Blackburn Rovers after illness wreaked havoc on Bryan Robson's side. Despite their protestations, they were punished regardless, eventually getting relegated by just two points in a cruel twist of fate.
Portsmouth, meanwhile, were deducted a whopping nine points in early 2010 after going into administration. As a result, Pompey finished on just 19 points - 16 off safety - and haven't returned to the top-flight since.
While precedent suggests the Toffees are in big trouble and fighting an uphill battle for survival should they be victims of a points deduction, the opening weeks of this season's Premier League show that there are a few teams in dire straits at the foot of the table, and with squads significantly weaker than Everton's.
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This article was originally published on 90min as Premier League table if Everton are deducted points for breaching financial rules.
