If things on the field were not tense enough to Everton supporters, the club was in even greater danger as it emerged that the Premier League could deduct points from the Merseyside club due to financial violations.
Farhad Moshiriarrival at Goodison Park was to usher in a new era of spending and success for Evertonbut countless mistakes in the market, as well as overpaying for players, led them to a point deduction abyss.
Everton have yet to release their accounts for the 2020/21 Premier League season, but they are expected to post another loss in excess of £100m, according to a report published by The Daily Mail.
The unease behind the scenes at Goodison Park is palpable, not least because of the financial implications of relegation to the Championship, but also because the club doesn’t know if they’ve violated the league’s profit and sustainability rules.
How much did Everton lose?
Everton have recorded cumulative losses of over £260m between 2017 and 2020, usually in clear violation of the rules, although the club are waiting to see how much of those losses can be made up due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
It all comes at a most inopportune moment for the club, which is believed to be set to lose £300m over the next 20 years after being forced to cut ties with the Russian billionaire. Alisher Usmanovbecause of the sanctions against Russia for the invasion of Ukraine.
Will Everton be stripped of points?
Premier League rules make it clear that clubs found to be in breach of spending rules can either be fined or forfeit points, but the league has yet to find any of its clubs guilty of such a breach.
The most recent time a top division club in England lost points was in 2012 when Portmouth after they entered the administration, they were deducted from nine points.
Everton knew about this problem in the summer when the club was unable to offer Rafael Benitez any significant transfers of funds.
The verdict will eat eleven Evertonlosses have been recorded over the last season, but at this stage it seems that the Toffees are banking entirely on the COVID-19 pandemic to provide them with a safety net.