EPL cases against Everton & Forest for overspending may last beyond season's end

Everton furiously labelled the Premier League's rules 'deficient' after being hit by a second charge on Monday for breaching financial regulations that has left them facing another points deduction this season.

The club, along with Nottingham Forest who have also been charged for similar breaches, have been referred to a second independent commission panel.

Everton have already been docked 10 points this term for a loss of £124.5million in a previous accounting period.

This fresh charge will not be brought before a commission until the appeals process for the original punishment is heard. That appeal is not expected to be finished until next month, which leaves the Premier League in a race against time to push through any further sanctions before the end of the season.

Should Forest and Everton appeal the commission's decision, the situation could farcically drag on beyond the end of the season. All appeals must be concluded by May 24 but the final fixtures are on May 19, meaning that the season could be over but the final league positions may not be determined until the cases are finalised.

The League has insisted that, under a new system brought in this season, charges are to be 'fast-tracked' and dealt with by the end of the campaign. Everton and Forest have a fortnight to respond to the charges, with both clubs vowing to fight their corner.

Everton took a strong stance in their official statement on Monday and said that there are 'deficiencies' in the League's rules, which could see them punished twice for the same alleged offence, with a lot of overlaps in the time periods between the separate cases.

'The Premier League does not have guidelines which prevent a club from being sanctioned for alleged breaches in financial