Every team to be hit with Premier League points deduction after Everton & Nottingham Forest charges
Published:
The footballing world was shocked in November 2023 when Everton became only the third team in history to be hit with a Premier League points deduction, getting docked 10 points, which was later reduced to six. They were then hit with another punishment in April 2024, being docked another two points.
The ruling came after Everton were charged with breaking the Premier League’s financial fair play rules. Without their deductions, Everton would be in 14th place right now, but with it they’re actually in 16th, just two points above the relegation zone.
With there being three points deductions this season alone, Ladbrokes takes you through every single club to be docked points in the history of the Premier League, starting with Forest…
Every single Premier League point deduction
4. Nottingham Forest
Forest are the most second-most recent team to be given a points deduction in the Premier League, getting hit with a four point punishment in March.
The punishment put Forest back in the relegation zone, and immediately made them one of the favourites to be playing Championship football next season, but a win against Fulham at home in April saw them leapfrog Luton and put themselves into the safe places.
Many fans were surprised to hear that Forest had been charged with breaking financial rules after the 1980 Champions League winners signed over 40 players in the four transfer windows that followed their promotion to England’s top-flight, some of those incomings being for big money.
3. Everton
As noted, Everton were docked ten points earlier on this season, putting them in jeopardy of getting relegated to the Championship this campaign. Their punishment was reduced to just six points earlier this year. However, they were hit with another two point deduction in April, putting them in danger once again.
Everton were actually the first side in nearly 15 years to docked points after breaking the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules during the 2021/22 season, with their losses of £124.5m being more than the league’s £105m threshold.
The Toffees have actually played pretty well this season, and had it not been for the points deduction, would find themselves in 14th place. However, they’re now in 16th, and could find themselves in the Championship next year if results don’t go their way.
2. Portsmouth
Back in March 2010, Portsmouth were deducted nine points after entering administration, with the club’s debts totalling £65m. They’d won the FA Cup less than two years prior, but the side found themselves in serious financial trouble, and were punished as a result.
Unlike Everton this year, Portsmouth looked likely for relegation before they were hit with their points deduction, and were already bottom of the league at the time of their punishment. They finished 16 points from safety, so staying in the division wouldn’t have been possible for Portsmouth even if they hadn’t been docked.
1. Middlesbrough
The first side in the history of the Premier League to be hit with the points deduction was Middlesbrough, but unlike Everton and Portsmouth, their punishment wasn’t brought on by any kind of financial wrongdoing.
Instead, Middlesbrough were docked three points for failing to name a team for a game against Blackburn Rovers, with their squad suffering with a virus. Middlesbrough were left with only two outfield players who’d made their debut for the club, with the squad majorly impacted with illness, and were unfortunately punishment for it during the 1996/97 season.
Despite only being deducted three points, the punishment was rather costly…
The consequences was grave, as Middlesbrough finished in 19th place on 39 points and were relegated from the Premier League. However, 42 points would have kept them in the division, who they’d have been playing top flight football the following season if they didn’t get hit with their points deduction.
Following both their punishments, Everton are priced at 9/2 to get relegated from the Premier League this campaign. The bookies think Forest are more likely to fail to beat the drop than Everton, with Ladbrokes pricing Nuno Espirito Santo’s side at 15/8 to be playing Championship football come August 2024.
All odds and markets are correct as of the date of publication.
