Finance expert believes Everton second charge could be reduced after Premier League verdict

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Everton have been handed four points back by the Premier League after the verdict of their appeal was announced on Monday afternoon.

The news will be a relief for Sean Dyche as the Toffees move up to 15th in the Premier League, five points clear of Luton Town in 18th spot.

Despite the positive news, Everton are not entirely out of the line of fire, with another charge hanging over Goodison Park.

Everton and Nottingham Forest were charged with another breach of Profit and Sustainability rules.

The Premier League verdict will arrive at the start of April.

Little has emerged concerning the punishment, but football finance expert Kieran Maguire has suggested the double jeopardy rule could come into play.

Everton second charge could be reduced

Talking live on talkSPORT on Monday afternoon, Maguire has suggested that because Everton’s initial charge overlaps with their second breach, any punishment could be reduced by two-thirds.

“I am not a lawyer, but you could say with a reasonable degree of confidence that if Everton are going to be assessed over a second three-year period, and two of those overlap, then whatever the second commission makes judgement should be reduced by two-thirds,” he said.

“So if they got further three point deduction, we say ‘well you’ve already got an outstanding offence for which you’re being punished’ so we will reduced that three to one or six to two and so on.”

Premier League precedent set

Everton’s initial charge and subsequent reduction have set a precedent for future rulings.

Nottingham Forest and Manchester City are following in the firing line as the authorities finally look to clamp down on English football’s finances.

If Maguire’s thinking is correct, then Everton’s second charge should be less severe, especially if it’s linked to their initial breach.

All Evertonians ask for is efficiency. At no point should there be uncertainty surrounding point totals during the middle of the season?

With the next charge unlikely to be answered until April, there is a stark possibility of the season ending with appeals and points deductions still up in the air.