Everton have been docked 10 points by the Premier League for Financial Fair Play rule breaches.
The Toffees have started to turn a corner under Sean Dyche, winning four of their last seven matches.
Yet Everton will now struggle to stay in the top flight with the points deduction set to see them fall to 19th in the table.
A Premier League statement read: "An independent Commission has imposed an immediate deduction of 10 points on Everton FC for a breach of the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSRs).
Everton will now be 19th in the Premier League table after the shocking points deduction
"The Premier League issued a complaint against the Club and referred the case to an independent Commission earlier this year.
"During the proceedings, the Club admitted it was in breach of the PSRs for the period ending Season 2021/22 but the extent of the breach remained in dispute.
"Following a five-day hearing last month, the Commission determined that Everton FC’s PSR Calculation for the relevant period resulted in a loss of £124.5million, as contended by the Premier League, which exceeded the threshold of £105million permitted under the PSRs.
"The Commission concluded that a sporting sanction in the form of a 10-point deduction should be imposed.
"That sanction has immediate effect."
Everton had denied any wrongdoing prior to the shocking punishment.
The Toffees plan to appeal the verdict and believe a sporting punishment for an accountancy matter is the wrong course of action.
Leeds, Leicester and Burnley could now sue the club, with the trio all relegated from the top flight in recent years.
The trio have already written to the club's prospective new owners, 777 Partners, warning they intended to sue for damages in the event of a guilty verdict.
Everton's case was referred to an independent commission after the club's financial records from the 2021/2022 season were looked at.
Under Premier League rules, clubs are allowed to lose a maximum of £105m over three years.
Clubs who fail to meet its profitability and sustainability rules can be fined or deducted points, with the latter chosen in this case.
Everton have been flying high in recent weeks - much to the delight of manager Sean Dyche.
But they'll now have just four points to their name.
Burnley also have four points, with Sheffield United and Luton amassing five and six from their opening 12 matches.
Toffees boss Dyche was asked about the possibility of a points deduction at the end of last month.
He kept his cards close to his chest, saying: "I think there are loads of stories out there nowadays, particularly things of this type.
"But at the end of the day, the commission will decide. And when they do, we'll find out."
When asked if a deduction would lead to added pressure on his shoulders, Dyche added: "No.
"To be honest, ever since I've been here there's been pressure.
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Everton boss Sean Dyche has a huge job on his hands following the Premier League's decision to dock points
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"There's pressure on all sorts (of things) around Everton Football Club.
"We've been trying to stay calm within lots of different challenges here. I think we mostly have done.
"(We are) trying to get things right on the pitch or better, certainly, and trying to improve other areas of the club. There's so much noise here, to be honest.
"It's just another part of it. (We are) trying to change the noise into a more positive feel about the club - not just team, the whole club. We're trying to work to do that.
"Every time you're just about getting there, another thing comes up. It's one of them things."
