Everton release major statement after Nottingham Forest failed with points deduction appeal
Nottingham Forest’s Premier League rivals Everton have withdrawn their appeal against a two-point deduction for falling foul of financial regulations.
The Toffees’ decision comes after the Reds were unsuccessful in appealing their four-point deduction. An independent commission delivered the verdict that Forest’s punishment was to be upheld on Tuesday.
Both clubs have asterisks next to their names in the Premier League table. However, Everton have already secured safety while the Reds’ top-flight status remains in the balance.
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In a statement, the Toffees said: “Everton Football Club has withdrawn its appeal of the decision by a Premier League Independent Commission to impose a two-point deduction on the club for a breach of the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules for the accounting period ending in June 2023. A hearing, scheduled for later this month, will now not proceed, and the club will conclude the 2023/24 Premier League season with the two-point deduction remaining in place.”
Everton have already been successful with one appeal this season, with a 10-point deduction reduced to six on appeal. Their two-point deduction was in relation to a second PSR breach.
Forest head coach Nuno Espirito Santo has been critical of the length of time it has taken for both cases to get sorted. The Reds were charged in January, docked the four points in March, had their appeal hearing in April and only discovered the outcome this week.
Reacting to the club’s unsuccessful appeal, Nuno said in his pre-match press conference: “I think the integrity of the league was harmed by all these issues that happened with the points deductions, especially the timing. Two games to go is when comes the decision and you wonder why it didn't come before? Then you start wondering why is this the decision? It will impact on the other clubs also.
"I don't want to raise too much issues about it but I think there are still things to be explained. At the end of the season everyone has to understand what happened. Why the decision came so late? Why we didn't win the appeal? All these issues I would personally would love to know (the answer to).”