In a stunning turn of events, both Manchester City and Chelsea find themselves perilously close to relegation from the Premier League following Everton’s unprecedented 10-point deduction for breaching financial rules. The ominous prediction comes from former financial advisor to the champions, Stefan Borson, who asserts that the punishment meted out to Everton sets a formidable precedent that could lead to severe consequences for other top-flight clubs.
Everton, now languishing in 19th place after the points deduction, plans to appeal the decision. However, Borson contends that the ramifications could extend to Manchester City, facing 115 alleged breaches of financial rules, and Chelsea, under scrutiny for payments linked to former owner Roman Abramovich.
Borson took to X to express his concerns, stating, ‘Without seeing the judgement/award -10 points for Everton feels harsh for a straightforward FFP [Financial Fair Play] breach to me. But reinforces that sanctions against City [if proven] and now Chelsea [if charged and admitted on the off-books payments] will be potentially relegation inducing.’
He further emphasized the need for Chelsea to reassess their transfer strategy in light of Premier League Profitability and Sustainability rules. The looming threat of relegation for these football giants has sent shockwaves through the sporting community, raising questions about their future in the league.
The possibility of relegation for Manchester City was previously hinted at by Borson in February when the club faced charges of 115 breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules. At that time, he tweeted, ‘Alarmist or not, the sheer extent of the PL charges are at a level that IF found proven, must lead to relegation.’
The Premier League’s stringent stance comes after Everton’s staggering financial losses of almost £372 million over a three-year period, well above the league’s guidelines. The technical breaches related to accounting treatments, and the league argued that Everton breached profit and sustainability rules.
As the football world awaits the outcome of potential sanctions against Manchester City and Chelsea, the January transfer window is expected to be a crucial period for these clubs. The allegations and subsequent investigations have added a layer of uncertainty to the already unpredictable landscape of English football. The fate of these football powerhouses hangs in the balance as they navigate the fallout from the Everton precedent and strive to secure their positions in the Premier League hierarchy.
