Everton have been hit with a two-point deduction for financial fair play breaches.
A second sanction was imposed after club officials admitted breaching Profit and Sustainability rules by £16.6 million for the financial year ending June 2023.
Sean Dyche’s side have now dropped down to 16th in the Premier League table, two points clear of the relegation zone with seven games of this season remaining.
Top-flight chiefs claimed that the Blues surpassed the £105M permitted losses over three rolling financial years by £23M but that figure has been disputed by the club.
The Goodison Park hierarchy are contesting that £6.5M of the figure quote relates to interest payments associated with their future stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.
It means that Everton’s FFP case is now set to drag on into the summer months with a potential third penalty carrying over into the forthcoming 2024/25 campaign.
A club statement read: “While the club’s position has been that no further sanction was appropriate, the club is pleased to see that the commission has given credit to the majority of the issues raised by the club, including the concept of double punishment, the significant mitigating circumstances facing the club due to the war in Ukraine, and the high level of cooperation and early admission of the club’s breach.
“Everton remains committed to working collaboratively with the league on all matters relating to PSR but is extremely concerned by the inconsistency of different commissions in respect of points deductions applied.”