EVERTON face a huge points deduction which could cost them their Premier League status after being charged with breaching Financial Fair Play rules.
The troubled Toffees, in a desperate relegation battle under new boss Sean Dyche, had posted a staggering loss of £371.8MILLION over three seasons up until 2021-22.
That is a whopping £266.8m over the £105m limit and comes despite the Farhad Moshiri-owned club claiming they would not fall foul of League regulations.
However, Everton vowed to “robustly defend” themselves against the charge after the Prem referred the alleged breaches to an independent three-man disciplinary commission.
A hearing could take place before the end of the season.
The Merseysiders are the second top-flight club this term to be charged with breaking financial rules after Manchester City were hit with an astonishing 101 charges covering a nine-year period.
A League spokesperson said: “We have referred an alleged breach of our Profitability and Sustainability Rules by Everton.
“The assessment period for which it is alleged the club is in breach is the period ending season 2021-22. Proceedings before the commission will be confidential and heard in private.”
Last May, Burnley and Leeds threatened a £200m damages claim against then-relegation rivals Everton over alleged FFP breaches.
The legal action never materialised following financial allowances given to all Prem clubs due to the Covid pandemic.
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The disciplinary charge issued yesterday relates to Everton’s 2021-22 accounts.
The club have until Friday to lodge their accounts at Companies House and have pledged to do so.
These are also expected to show a nine-figure loss, although figures allow a significant discount for the cost of the club’s new 60,000 home at Bramley Moore Dock.
If found guilty, punishments could include points deductions, transfer embargos, fines and a forced wages cap.
But a club statement read: “The club strongly contests the allegation of non-compliance.
“Everton is prepared to robustly defend its position.”
In 2022, Everton announced losses of £120.9m for 2020-21 — putting them £371.8m in the red over three years.
EFL bosses have levied a series of points deductions for financial breaches in recent seasons, with Reading facing a six-point penalty in the coming weeks.
But Middlesbrough, who were relegated in 1997 after losing three points for not fulfilling a fixture at Blackburn, remain so far the only top-flight side to suffer a deduction.
