‘Innocent of all things’ – finance expert makes Everton FFP claim

According to Kieran Maguire, an alleged breach of the Premier League rules in the 2021-22 season rules may have resulted in Everton being referred to an independent commission, reports the LiverpoolWorld.

The club is accused of exceeding financial fair play limits due to a transfer. Everton have denied these allegations and have stated that they have provided financial information to the Premier League in a transparent manner. In the past three years, the club has posted losses of £372 million, which is beyond the permitted limit of £105 million. An independent commission will now hear the case. Maguire, who is a football finance expert and lecturer at the University of Liverpool, has suggested that if Everton are found guilty, they could face a range of punishments, from a warning to a points deduction.

According to Kieran Maguire, who spoke to Sky Sports, Everton incurred losses of £372 million in the three years before the 2021-22 season, while the financial fair play limit is £105 million. Everton justified this by citing Covid-related losses and expenses for the new stadium. Maguire stated that the Premier League made a comment about the 2021-22 season, during which Everton worked with the league and operated under an approved business plan. However, sources from Merseyside (but not from the club itself) revealed that the issue concerns a transfer that potentially exceeded the FFP limit, which is the current point of contention.

“As far as the Premier League handbook is concerned, a commission has an unlimited tariff which can be levelled against a club should it be proven to be guilty. Remember, at present Everton are innocent of all things.

“That, therefore, could go from a finger-wagging [if] you’ve not kept your account particularly well, it could be a fine, it could be a squad cap, it could be a wage cap and I think the next tariff would be a points deduction.”