Burnley Seeks £50 Million Amid Everton’s Breach of Premier League Rules
Burnley is pursuing compensation exceeding £50 million due to financial losses they attribute to Everton breaching the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR). This legal claim stems from Burnley’s relegation to the Championship, which they believe was influenced by Everton’s infractions.
The hearings are set to commence this week at the International Dispute Resolution Centre in London, occurring two years after Everton faced point deductions for PSR violations related to rolling three-year periods that concluded in 2021-22 and 2022-23.
Burnley was relegated in the 2021-22 season, finishing only four points behind Everton, who appeared in 18th place. Had Everton received their six-point deduction during that campaign, Burnley asserts they would have avoided relegation and Everton would have been demoted instead.
According to Premier League regulations, a breach of PSR can lead to penalties, typically in the form of point deductions. While the Independent Commission overseeing Everton’s case did not recommend compensation for other affected clubs, a pre-hearing in May 2023 allowed Burnley and others to assert their claims under Rule W.51.5 of the 2022-23 Premier League Handbook.
This rule empowers the Commission to mandate compensation to any individual or club affected by a breach. Burnley contends they are entitled to reparations for the revenue losses incurred as a direct consequence of their relegation.
Should Burnley’s claim be successful, it could have significant ramifications, potentially opening the gates for similar actions by other clubs against teams found guilty of PSR violations.
