EXCLUSIVE: Premier League introduce new rule following Everton’s FFP charges last season that will see clubs with a recent history of overspending submit their accounts THREE MONTHS earlier than the rest of the top flight

The Premier League have introduced a new rule following Everton’s Financial Fair Play charges last season which compels clubs with a recent history of overspending to submit their accounts three months before the rest of the top flight. 

Under Rule E.48 clubs who are forecasting losses must file audited accounts to the Premier League by December 31 rather than the standard March 31 deadline.

The new regulation is an attempt by the Premier League to ensure that any disciplinary cases arising from alleged breaches of FFP rules are dealt with before the end of the same season. 

Several clubs complained to the Premier League about Everton’s charges not being heard by the end of last season, thus enabling them to avoid a potential points deduction and escape relegation.

Everton have denied any wrongdoing and vowed to robustly defend themselves at an independent commission later this year, but other clubs have been openly sceptical of their protestations of innocence.

The club’s losses over the past three years have totalled £372 and were charged by the league in March 2023

As revealed by Mail Sport, Southampton, Leicester, Leeds, Nottingham Forest and Burnley wrote to the Premier League at the end of last season arguing that they should be entitled to share compensation of up to £300million if Everton are subsequently found guilty of breaching spending rules, as well as warning the Premier League that they could become party to the dispute.

The Premier League have responded promptly with a rule change intended to help resolve cases quicker and reduce the potential for acrimony between clubs, which has been a long-running feature of the Everton saga. 

The Merseyside club infuriated many of their rivals by escaping FFP charges for the 2021/22 season despite recording losses of £371.8m for the three-year accounting period when the Premier League limit is £105m, but were subsequently charged with a rule breach for the next three-year period in March 2023.

The Premier League’s disciplinary hearing is not due to take place until October however so any points deduction in the event of a guilty verdict would apply to this season, a situation which other clubs deem to be unsatisfactory. 

The new accounting rules will only apply to clubs who have an aggregated loss on their Adjusted Earnings for the previous two years, which based on recent results could include Everton, Chelsea and Wolves.

Chelsea are among the clubs that could be forced to submit accounts early (pictured, the Blues’ co-controlling owner Todd Boehly)