In a scathing critique, former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan has criticized two Championship teams in the wake of Everton’s alleged violation of Financial Fair Play regulations. The Daily Mail initially reported that Leeds United and Leicester City, along with Premier League club Burnley, are prepared to take legal action against Everton if found guilty of exploiting FFP rules.
FFP guidelines permit clubs to accrue a maximum loss of £105 million over a three-year period. In March 2023, Everton declared losses of £371.8 million within that timeframe. An independent commission was tasked with examining the issue, and last week, the Premier League recommended a 12-point deduction for the Merseyside club, which would place them at the bottom of the Premier League table.
Moreover, Leeds United, Burnley, and Leicester City are aiming to pursue a £300 million case against Everton if they are found culpable for contravening FFP, as all three clubs suffered relegation during Everton’s alleged flouting of UEFA’s regulations.
Nonetheless, during a talkSPORT interview on Monday morning, Simon Jordan lambasted the three clubs, asserting that they have no chance of succeeding in any legal suit. Jordan stated, “They’ve got no chance. Everybody signs up to a covenant which is basically that the sanction of a breach has this consequence.”
He added, “The rules that you signed up to were that the punishment for financial breachers was this. You can’t then go and say ‘Well I don’t like the rules that I signed up to and I can’t do anything about changing those rules, so I’m now going to sue you for them.'”
Jordan’s argument is logical – all three clubs agreed to UEFA’s FFP covenant, which stipulates that those who break the rules will face punishment from the governing body. These clubs cannot take matters into their own hands. If Everton were to be found innocent, then perhaps there might be a stronger case for the trio.
However, it is understandable that the three clubs are frustrated. Everton exceeded the permitted losses threefold without any repercussions, while the others were relegated and now have to handle the financial consequences that accompany it.
