The former financial advisor for Manchester City raised concerns for his previous club and Chelsea, suggesting the possibility of both teams facing relegation from the Premier League, prompted by Everton’s significant points deduction due to a breach in profit and sustainability rules. Everton’s recent 10-point penalty dropped them from 14th to 19th in the league standings, intensifying their fight against relegation.

The Merseyside club was found to have overspent by £24 million over a five-year period, leading to their substantial punishment. However, this penalty could be overshadowed if Manchester City and Chelsea are proven guilty of similar financial wrongdoing. Manchester City, the reigning champions, faced 115 alleged breaches earlier in the year, which they have refuted. On the other hand, Chelsea is dealing with allegations tied to former owner Roman Abramovich’s transactions, predating the current ownership. The club spokesperson emphasized that these allegations do not involve anyone presently associated with the club and are based on undisclosed documents.

Stefan Borson, a lawyer who previously advised City, cautioned both his former team and Chelsea about the potential consequences of relegation if the charges against them are substantiated. He expressed surprise at Everton’s severe penalty for what he deemed a straightforward breach and highlighted that similar or greater sanctions against City and Chelsea could lead to the dreaded relegation outcome.

Borson urged immediate reconsideration of Chelsea’s approach, especially regarding their previous perception that breaching the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability rules could be managed merely with a fine. He speculated that the upcoming January transfer window might witness intriguing developments. He also pointed out that the acceptance of Covid and Sanctions allowances as significant adjustments might no longer be feasible for Chelsea, even in the best-case scenario.

Borson shed light on the swiftness of Everton’s punishment compared to the ongoing delay in resolving City’s case. He explained that Everton’s case was relatively straightforward compared to the complexity and volume of evidence involved in City’s situation, with numerous moving parts, extensive documentation, factual witnesses, and potentially more experts contributing to the complexity of City’s case.