Burnley aim legal action at 'easy target' Everton as Premier League scape
03/20/2025 02:53 PM
Burnley’s reasons for targeting Everton rather than the Premier League with legal action have been explained by football finance expert Kieran Maguire.
The Clarets were relegated from the Premier League back in the 2021/22 season, when they finished 18th in the table, four points behind the Toffees in 16th.
With it emerging Everton had breached financial regulations by overspending across a period of several years, including 2021/22, the Merseyside club were eventually punished following an investigation.
That came in the form of an eight-point deduction that was applied last season, despite which they managed to avoid relegation from the Premier League.
It was subsequently confirmed this year that any remaining charges against Everton over PSR breaches had been dropped.
Burnley target Everton despite points deductions
While the Toffees may already have been punished by the Premier League through the removal of those points, the matter appears not to be fully closed yet.
It has now emerged that Burnley are renewing legal action against Everton, for revenue that was lost as a result of them being relegated while the Toffees stayed up in 2021/22.
The Clarets, along with others who missed out on survival to Everton had previously threatened to take action over the Toffees benefitting from spending more than they were allowed to help them avoid relegation.
| 2021-22 Premier League position | Played | Points |
| 16. Everton | 38 | 39 |
| 17. Leeds United | 38 | 38 |
| 18. Burnley (R) | 38 | 35 |
| 19. Watford (R) | 38 | 23 |
| 20. Norwich City | 38 | 22 |
The Turf Moor club’s case is likely to be built around the claim that had their rivals not overspent on players, they would not have been able to stay in the Premier League at their expense.
Now, Maguire has given his take on why it is Everton who are being targeted by Burnley with this particular action.
While speaking on the Price of Football podcast, the football finance expert was asked why Burnley are looking to take action against Everton themselves rather than the Premier League for not imposing a sanction that may have seen the Toffees punished in a way that would have kept Burnley up.
In response to that, Maguire said: “I think if you take a look at the Premier League handbook at the time, there wasn’t the opportunity for in-season breaches because the accounts don’t come out for nine months after the end of the season you’re always looking in your rear-view mirror.
“So I think that would make it more difficult, more difficult but again not the same as impossible, but presumably Burnley have taken legal advice and feel that Everton are an easier target and are therefore going down that route instead.”
Friedkin Group will want dispute solved quickly
Football Insider Verdict
With the Friedkin Group having completed their takeover of Everton back in December, they have looked to put the club back on a more stable financial footing.
As a result, they will surely prefer not to see these historical issues once again rear their heads from before their time with the club.
It has been suggested Everton could pay Burnley £2-3million in an out of court settlement as a way of dealing with this issue.
They may well feel that is something they can afford to do given the greater financial security they have, combined with the fact they look safe in the Premier League for next season.
A swift resolution would also allow those at the club to focus on what is going to be a big summer as they complete a move away from Goodison Park and look to revamp the squad.
With that in mind, it will be intriguing to see how these negotiations play out, and there could be an added if Burnley are again promoted back to the Premier League for the 2025/26 campaign.
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