Dan Friedkin, Scott Parker
(Credit: Imago)
Dakir Thanveer
Sat 22 March 2025 9:30, UK
Everton will be looking for a quick resolution for their legal battle with Burnley.
The Toffees were deducted eight points last season after they were found guilty of breaching profit and sustainability rules (PSR) over several years, including the three-year period to 2022-23.
This resulted in talk of Burnley, Watford and Norwich initiating legal action against Everton after they were relegated in the 2021-22 season.
While nothing came of it at the time, Burnley, who finished that season just four points behind the Goodison Park outfit, have launched a compensation claim, arguing that they suffered indirectly from their rivals’ PSR breach.
Everton were deducted eight points in the Premier League last season. (Credit: Imago)
Kieran Maguire predicts outcome of Everton legal battle with Burnley
Burnley’s case revolves around the argument that they may not have been relegated had Everton not benefitted from overspending on signings, although Kieran Maguire feels that is hard to quantify and prove.
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The football finance expert, though, recalled how West Ham paid Sheffield United around £20million for a similar case 20 years ago, suggesting a bigger compensation this time.
Team Matches Wins Draws Losses Goal Difference Points
16. Everton 38 11 6 21 -23 39
17. Leeds 38 9 11 18 -37 38
18. Burnley (R) 38 7 14 17 -19 35
19. Watford (R) 38 6 5 27 -43 23
20. Norwich (R) 38 5 7 26 -61 22
Premier League 2021-22 table between 16th and 20th.
He went on to tip Everton and Burnley to reach an agreement in an out-of-court settlement, with the result of the case unlikely to be revealed to the public.
“If we go back to 2005 when Sheffield United were relegated, they put in a similar claim following the [transfers of] Carlos Tevez and Mascherano, who were signed by West Ham”, Maguire said on the Price of Football podcast (20 March).
“It was subsequently, I think, proven that there had been third-party ownership of those two players, which was a breach of the rules.
“Sheffield United claimed that they had suffered indirectly as a result of this because they were relegated and West Ham weren’t, and nobody knows the exact amount that was paid across at the time, but it was rumoured to be somewhere in the region of £20m.
“Now, £20m in 2005, if you look at the size of the TV deals and how they have grown since then, it is clearly much more significant than that.
“The secret lawyers that we had a chat with said you can’t say you’ve got to, therefore, give the difference between Premier League TV revenues and what you’re getting in the Championship because there still was a 100 per cent chance that Burnley would have survived and so on.
“But, there is a case and there is also, of course, a defence, and clearly Everton will be defending this using their knowledge and their council’s view.
“I suspect we will have perhaps an out-of-court settlement, we won’t get to hear the results.”
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2foerOFwBJD5fSRezSVAWl?si=549b45fce0104972
Friedkin to seek quick settlement
It is hard to prove if or how much Everton benefitted from overspending on signings in the 2021-22 season, especially compared to Burnley, as it is impossible to quantify an individual’s impact.
That is why the legal battle may drag on in the court, which makes an out-of-court settlement sensible for all parties involved.
The Friedkin Group will be determined to resolve the issue as soon as possible ahead of their first summer transfer window as the Everton owners.
Therefore, it will not be a surprise if the Merseyside-based club had to pay Burnley a compensation fee.
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