Everton could have been given a much harsher punishment over their financial rule breaches, according to the Premier League's official handbook.
The Toffees have been stunned by a ten-point deduction after they were charged with breaking the top flight's profit and sustainability regulations - plunging them into 19th place in the table.
The Premier League had pushed for a sizeable points deduction to set a precedent after they were found to have committed the breaches in the 2021-22 campaign - having posted financial losses of almost £372million over a three-year period.