Everton could be disadvantaged by ‘completely ridiculous’ Premier League rules after European qualification
Everton could be disadvantaged by the Premier League’s financial rules if they qualify for the Conference League this season.
That is according to former Manchester City financial adviser Stefan Borson, who exclusively told Football Insider it’s “completely ridiculous” that the team competing in the third-tier competition will face the same spending restrictions as Champions League clubs.
Premier League clubs voted to introduce the squad cost ratio (SCR) rules to replace the profit and sustainability rules (PSR) from the start of next season.
Under the SCR system, clubs will be able to spend 85 per cent of their revenue on squad costs, while that figure drops to 70 per cent for teams competing in European competitions.
It means Everton’s spending could be restricted if they qualify for the Conference League this season, with David Moyes’s side currently sitting level on points with seventh-place Brentford.
Why Everton could face 'extremely difficult' challenge after European qualification
Everton could face expulsion from Europe this season if they qualify for the Conference League alongside Roma.
That is because both clubs are owned by The Friedkin Group (TFG), with Uefa’s rules prohibiting teams controlled by the same owners or directors from competing in the same European competition.
| Financial Metrics | 2024 | 2025 |
| Turnover | £187m | £197m |
| Wage Bill | £157m | £152m |
| Wage To Turnover | 81% | 74% |
| Total Losses | £53m | £9m |
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Borson discussed the issues qualifying for the Conference League could present for Premier League clubs due to the new SCR rules.
“I can't believe that the clubs have allowed it to go through with a 70 per cent SCR cap, even if you're only in the Conference League,” said Borson.
“It will mean there is no difference in the way that a Conference League team is going to be treated compared to a Champions League team. It's completely ridiculous, and it's going to make life extremely difficult for teams that finish in the Conference League.
“The Conference League is already for a lot of teams not a good outcome. It's not unrealistic to think some teams will try and get out of being in the Conference League, or they must have thought about it.”
How Premier League could be forced into financial rule change
Borson suggested it could take one of the top clubs to qualify for the Conference League for the spending rules to be changed.
“You would think that it's not a case that they haven't yet sort of realised and, therefore, when they realise there will be a change in the rules,” said Borson.
“It's just not possible. I wonder whether maybe it will take one of the big teams to accidentally fall into the Conference League again, maybe Chelsea or Liverpool, and then they’ll go, ‘Hang on a minute, how come we've got this 70 per cent cap when everybody else has got 85?’.
“Now, you might say they've already got 70 per cent anyway for the Uefa test, but the Uefa test is just different.
“The consequences of failing the Uefa test are different, so I think the Conference League now is just very unattractive on the back of that limit.”