Does the Burnley v Everton ruling open the door for compensation claims across the Premier League?
The[1] Premier League’s financial regulations are under renewed scrutiny following the publication of a Premier League Independent Disciplinary Commission’s (the “Commission”) written decision on 10 June 2026. This decision, in respect of a compensation claim pursued by Burnley FC (Burnley) against Everton FC (Everton), found in favour of Burnley and ordered Everton to pay over £35 million in compensation and interest.
The key finding of the Premier League Commission was that Everton’s breach of Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) during the 2021/2022 season (which led Everton being sanctioned with a 6 point deduction) contributed to a competitive imbalance[2]. This sporting advantage gained by Everton was found to have caused the relegation of Burnley from the Premier League.
The Premier League took action during the 2023/2024 season for the breach of the PSR, imposing a ten-point deduction which was subsequently reduced to six points on appeal (the “Premier League’s proceedings”). Burnley filed its claim for compensation shortly after the points deduction was reduced and only now, two years after the end of that season, has the compensation claim been decided.
This article analyses the award and its implications below. Prior to appealing, it is worth noting that Everton had asked the Commission to secure the award (for example by escrow) or stay enforcement based on Burnley’s financial position, with the Commission ruling against them and deciding that repayment was likely if the appeal succeeds.
It must also be borne in mind that the wider landscape for football will almost certainly change if the appeal fails, meaning numerous rivals will be watching the appeal with bated breath.
The decision is available here.
Another point to note is that the Commission’s decision runs into 290 pages and will be the subject of an appeal. We set out below a high-level analysis, which focuses on key details and key findings.
This article looks at:
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- Tags: Dispute Resolution | finance | Football | Premier League | Premier League Handbook | Premier League Profit & Sustainability Rules | Regulation
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Written by
Tim Williamson
Tim is a partner in Clarke Willmott's commercial and private client litigation team and leads on the regulatory side for the firm’s sport sector. He has an unmatched breath of experience and knowledge within the sector and works to provide the most specialist solutions for his clients. Tim can help clients respond to changes in their regulatory landscape, reduce risk arising from such developments and represent them when faced with an investigation by a regulatory body and / or when threatened with sanction.
Sam Harkness
Sam is an associate in the commercial and private client litigation team at Clarke Willmott specialising in criminal and regulatory litigation, with a wider practice that incorporates civil litigation and agricultural property litigation. He is based in the Taunton office.
Sam joined Clarke Willmott as a paralegal in August 2019 and began his training contract with the firm in March 2021, qualifying as a solicitor in November 2022.
