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Move to give Everton possible early points deduction blocked

A group of Premier League clubs have failed in a bid to have Everton’s charge for breaching Financial Fair Play rules fast-tracked so that it is dealt with before the end of the season.

Other teams in relegation trouble — understood to be Leeds United, Southampton, Leicester City and Nottingham Forest — had wanted any sanctions to be imposed well before the start of next season.

Club sources say the message has come back from the Premier League that the disciplinary hearing must follow due process and cannot be expedited because of the wishes of other parties.

In May last year, Burnley and Leeds demanded access to any evidence the Premier League had collected about Everton’s finances and any provisional ruling it may have made about possible rule breaches, and threatened to bring a legal action for substantial damages against the Premier League and Everton.

The clubs who asked for the fast-tracked hearing have distanced themselves from reports that they have lodged legal papers with the league this season.

The timescale for Everton’s case to be heard remains unclear but FFP cases in the Sky Bet Championship have taken between 18 months and two years to reach a conclusion.

Everton insist they remain confident they will be cleared of breaching the rules. The club face the possibility of a points deduction after the club was referred to an independent commission by the Premier League over an alleged breach of profit and sustainability rules.

The Premier League has charged Everton with breaching its rules for the period ending season 2021-22, although it has not gone into specifics. There is no set sanction should Everton be found guilty as no case has ever been heard before in the top flight.

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