Everton have formally lodged an appeal against the two-point penalty imposed on the club earlier in April for breaching Premier League financial rules.

The Toffees indicated their intention to appeal last Monday, the same day the sanction was announced. The PA news agency understands that an appeal has now been lodged.

The club admitted breaching the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) for permitted losses of £16.6 million ($207 million) for the assessment period ending with the 2022–23 season.

The independent commission that imposed the sanction disclosed in the written reasons for its decision that the Premier League had initially sought a five-point penalty.

The commission reduced this to two after mitigation was taken into account, notably because the club was being punished twice in the same overlapping period.

In February, Everton had a 10-point penalty for an earlier PSR breach reduced to six on appeal.

Everton will now aim to achieve a further reduction of the two-point penalty via the latest appeal.

Everton and Nottingham Forest have both now appealed against the sanctions imposed on them, and the hope for all concerned will be that both outcomes are known heading into the final round of Premier League matches on May 19.

The commission that issued the two-point penalty will also hold a separate hearing to settle a dispute between the club and the league around costs that Everton contends are associated with the construction of their new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.

This dispute is not covered by the new ‘standard directions’ for dealing with PSR cases before the end of the season in which clubs are charged, so any sanction imposed would almost certainly apply next season.

(dpa/NAN)