By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Everton Football Club has regained four points in its latest bid to avoid relegation from the Premier League.
The northwest club’s record 10-point deduction for breaching the league’s financial rules has been reduced to six following an appeal, the competition said Monday.
The punishment – the biggest in Premier League history – dropped Everton from 14th to 19th in the table.
The reduction lifts them from 17th to 15th, although the club is facing another possible points deduction.
A Premier League statement read: “Everton FC appealed the sanction imposed against it on nine grounds, each of which related to the sanction rather than the fact of the breach.”
“A three-person appeal board concluded that the independent commission which imposed the 10-point penalty “made legal errors” on two grounds.
It said the commission was “wrong” to punish Everton for being “less than frank” over what it told the Premier League about its new stadium debt.
The appeal board also said the commission was “wrong not to take into account available benchmarks” and that a six-point sanction was “broadly in line” with English Football League guidelines.
Everton said the appeal board’s decision to overturn the commission’s finding that they failed to act in good faith was “an incredibly important point of principle”.
The outstanding charge against Everton could not be heard until their appeal against the 10-point deduction was completed.
Everton say they remain “fully committed to co-operating” with the Premier League over the second charge.
Everton, who have not won in the league win since 16 December, are now five points clear of the relegation zone with 12 games remaining.