Everton have been given a further points deduction for a breach of the Premier League's profitability and sustainability rules (PSR).
Everton were hit with a 10-point penalty in November for a PSR breach relating to the three-year period ending in the 2021-22 season.
This was later reduced to six in February following a successful appeal.
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The Merseyside club have now been hit with a further two-point deduction, according to The Athletic.
In January, the Premier League referred Everton to an independent commission.
The latest penalty relates to the three-year accounting period ending in the 2022-23 season.
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The deduction sees Sean Dyche's side drop down a place in the Premier League table to 16th, two points above the relegation zone with seven matches of the season left to play.
If Everton decide to appeal the decision, then they must inform the Premier League of their intention to do so within the next seven days.
The Premier League could also appeal the commission's decision, if it feels that Everton's punishment should be more severe.
At the end of March, Everton reported a loss of £89.1 million for the 2022-23 season, almost twice as much as the previous year.
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The loss fell within the period scrutinised by the independent commission.
The club's debt has risen to £330.6m after six consecutive seasons of reporting losses.
Everton have argued that rising debt is partly due to "significant investment" in their new Bramley-Moore Dock stadium, due to open in 2025.
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After Everton's first charge, the Premier League brought in new rules that means PSR sanctions must be enforced in the same season that charges are brought.
Upon being referred to a commission for a second time, Everton released a statement that read: "The Premier League does not have guidelines which prevent a club being sanctioned for alleged breaches in financial periods which have already been subject to punishment, unlike other governing bodies, including the EFL.
"As a result — and because of the Premier League’s new commitment to deal with such matters “in-season” — the club is in a position where it has had no option but to submit a PSR calculation which remains subject to change, pending the outcome of the appeal."
The latest deduction comes a month after Nottingham Forest were handed a four-point penalty for a PSR breach relating to the three-year period ending in the 2022-23 season. Forest are appealing against that punishment.
Featured Image Credit: GettyTopics: Everton, Premier League, Football, FFP