Everton have been hit with a Premier League second charge for spending breaches.
A record 10-point deduction was imposed on the Goodison Park club in November after they were found guilty of a £19.5 million overspend for the 2021/22 season.
But the Blues are now set to face fresh action after it was confirmed on Monday that they had again fallen afoul of the top flight’s Profit and Sustainability regulations.
Club officials have a fortnight to respond to the alleged breaches incurred during the previous 2022/23 campaign before possibly facing another independent commission.
A timeline of mid-April has been set out for any hearing and final decision, after which Everton will have a seven-day window in which to appeal their ruling.
Any regulatory process, however, will be determined by their ongoing appeal against their initial 10-point sanction, which will have a bearing on these latest charges.
“Everton Football Club acknowledges the Premier League’s decision to refer a breach of Profit & Sustainability rules (PSR) for the assessment period ending with the 2022/23 season to an independent Premier League commission,” confirmed a club statement.
“This relates to a period which covers seasons 2019/20, 2020/21, 2021/22 and 2022/23. It therefore includes financial periods (2019/20, 2020/21 and 2021/22) for which the club has already received a 10-point sanction. The club is currently appealing that sanction.
“The Premier League does not have guidelines which prevent a club being sanctioned for alleged breaches in financial periods which have already been subject to punishment, unlike other governing bodies, including the EFL.
“As a result – and because of the Premier League’s new commitment to deal with such matters “in-season” – the club is in a position where it has had no option but to submit a PSR calculation which remains subject to change, pending the outcome of the appeal.
“The club must now defend another Premier League complaint which includes the very same financial periods for which it has already been sanctioned, before that appeal has even been heard. The club takes the view that this results from a clear deficiency in the Premier League’s rules.
“Everton can assure its fans that it will continue to defend its position during the ongoing appeal and, should it be required to do so, at any future commission – and that the impact on supporters will be reflected as part of that process.”