Sean Dyche's side have pulled clear of the drop zone after Monday's news that the club's points deduction has been reduced from 10 to six
In April of last year, a journalist complimented Roma coach Jose Mourinho on his team's rise to third in the Serie A standings – but before he could finish his question, the Portuguese interjected."Are we third in the table? Are we sure that Juve don't have 59 points?" Mourinho asked during a post-match interview on , making a very pointed reference to the fact that Juve were appealing against their 15-point deduction for financial irregularities. He added disdainfully, "We are in Italy…"
However, England now has its own very serious issues with the integrity of its top flight that are making a mockery the Premier League's claim to be the best in the world.
GettyFrom 17th to 15th
On Monday afternoon, it was confirmed that Everton have had their 10-point penalty for breaching the Premier League's Profit & Sustainability Rules (PSR) reduced to six points on appeal.
Consequently, Sean Dyche's struggling side have jumped from 17th to 15th in the table and are now five points clear of the relegation zone rather than just one. In addition, Luton are suddenly four points from safety.
The terrible thing is, though, this is far from over. Everton are facing a second charge relating to the PSR assessment period between 2019 and 2023, meaning another points deduction remains a very real possibility.
To complicate matters even more, Nottingham Forest, who have dropped to 17th following Monday's news, are facing a charge of their own that could see them fall into the drop zone.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesThe Man City debacle
Justice has to be done, of course, and due process must be followed in cases of such a serious nature but there is understandable frustration at just how long they are taking to be resolved.
As if anyone needs reminding, it's not just the relegation battle that is now shrouded in uncertainty, it's also an absolute farce that Manchester City, who are presently bidding to win a fourth consecutive title, and a sixth in seven years, were charged with more than 100 breaches of the Premier League's financial regulations last March.
Incredibly, that trial has yet to even begin. Premier League CEO Richard Masters said in January that a date has been set but then bizarrely added "I can't tell you when that is" without any further explanation.
Getty/GOALOne rule for the poor, another for the elite?
Clearly, the gravity of the charges facing City are on a whole other level to those brought against Everton (and Forest), so the case was always going to require far more time to resolve.
However, it's not in the least bit surprising that other clubs, managers and supporters are both publicly and privately expressing dismay and disgust at how long all of this is taking.
It's also rather inevitably led to suggestions that it's one rule for the Premier League's poorer clubs, and quite another for its elite, who have bottomless wells of oil money and armies of lawyers capable of tying up administrators in red tape.
Getty ImagesRelegation battle to be concluded in the courtroom?
Those accusations aren't going to subside any time soon, either, as even the more 'straightforward' cases involving Everton and Forest could drag on until April – and maybe even beyond, casting a long shadow over the entire relegation battle.
At the end of the day, nobody will really know where they stand until all of the appeals are heard, which is just an embarrassing position for the Premier League to find itself in.
Even worse, who goes down this season might be decided by what happens in a court room rather than on the pitch.