After being charged with breaching Premier League Profitability and Sustainability Rules, Nottingham Forest and Everton will be forced to play the remainder of the season with ten men.

Club officials had been expecting a ten-point deduction in line with Everton’s punishment earlier this season. However, after watching Everton successfully navigate their points deduction and escape the relegation zone, Premier League bosses questioned whether the punishment fitted the crime and ultimately issued an even harsher reprimand this time around.

Things will now get even stickier for the Toffees as they’ll start each game a player short, though, speaking to Everton fans, many seemed indifferent to the news, with one saying, ‘We’ve been playing like we’re a man down all season, I doubt we’ll notice the difference.’ While another Everton fan tweeted: ‘As long as it’s Calvin-Lewin that misses out, we’ll be fine – he already misses every game.’

Forest, meanwhile, will now switch to a back three, with new boss Nuno Espírito ready to implement a 3-3-3 formation for the remainder of the season. Speaking to reporters ahead of their FA Cup replay against Blackpool, the Forest boss told reporters, ‘If you look at my history – Tottenham, Wolves, Porto – I’ve always favoured a back three. Now, I can lose playing three at the back without fans calling for my head.’

It’s believed that both clubs will appeal their penalties. Though, if their appeals are unsuccessful, the severity of the punishment could increase, and both clubs may be required to field a five-a-side team until next season.