Everton have issued a fierce statement after the Premier League side were slapped with a hefty fine for breaching financial rules. The Toffees have been instructed to pay Burnley compensation worth £30million, plus approximately £5m in interest, although they have committed to appealing the decision.
It comes after Burnley were given leave to sue Everton following a 10-point deduction, later reduced to six, for Profit and Sustainability Rule breaches in the 2021/22 season. The deduction was applied retrospectively, but Burnley believed they were worthy of compensation because the season the rule breaches took place, the Clarets were relegated.
Burnley finished 18th during the 2021/22 season, four points behind Everton, who ended the campaign in 16th, surviving by the skin of their teeth. Fast forward and Everton have been found liable and will have to compensate the Lancastrian side.
In a statement, the Premier League club have said: “Everton Football Club is surprised and angered by the decision of a Premier League Independent Disciplinary Commission to order a compensation payment to Burnley Football Club in relation to Everton’s PSR breach in June 2022. Everton has appealed the decision and is clear in its belief the ruling is fundamentally flawed in both law and fact.
“The Club does not recognise the findings of the panel in determining Burnley’s relegation from the Premier League in May 2022 was caused by a sporting advantage gained by Everton due to a breach of Profit & Sustainability Rules, for which a substantive sporting sanction has already been received.
“This ruling sets a dangerous and unworkable precedent for English football, given it is constructed on a principle that a club can be in breach of financial rules at any point in a financial year. Everton believes the panel’s ruling misrepresents the clear evidence presented by its legal representatives and that an appeal will be successful.”
Before concluding: “The Club is confident of its ongoing PSR compliance and has also obtained confirmation from the Premier League of its clear position that this ruling should not be the cause of any future PSR sanction. Evertonians can be assured that ownership are focused, with strengthened resolve, on delivering their vision of returning Everton to the top echelon of English football. No further comment will be made on this matter until the appeal process has been successfully concluded.”
In between Burnley and Everton in the table were Leeds United, who didn’t get relegated but would’ve earned more prize money for a higher finish in the table. It’s reported that Everton and Leeds reached a settlement in September 2025.
Everton found themselves in another relegation scrap the season they were handed the points deduction, but survived with more room to spare. They finished 14 points clear of 18th-placed Luton Town in the 2023/24 campaign.