The mayor of Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram, has had his say after Everton were deducted 10 points for violating the Premier League’s profit and sustainability regulations yesterday.
The Toffees have now dropped down to the relegation zone after the verdict, but they are planning to appeal the decision against them. They have 14 days to do so. Now, Everton have the support of the mayor of Liverpool.
Everton’s punishment has come because they were found guilty of violating the Premier League‘s profit and sustainability regulations.
The league’s rules dictate that clubs can lose a maximum of £105 million over a three-year cycle, but in the FFP cycle ending in 2022, the Toffees allegedly went £19.5 million over the limit (The Athletic).
The decision has brought in a wave of reactions from some big names across the country.
Paul Merson claimed yesterday that the top-six teams cannot be caught if the smaller sides don’t spend money, while Gary Lineker wondered if other clubs who are alleged to have breached financial regulations will also be sanctioned in the same way.
Even Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher claimed that the punishment was ‘very excessive’.
Now, the mayor of Liverpool, Steve Rotheram, who says he is actually a fan of Jurgen Klopp’s side, has defended Everton. He has promised Toffees fans that he will support their appeal and write to the Premier League to rescind the ruling.
He wrote on X: “This is an excessive and grossly unfair punishment for a single charge – and makes a rod for the PL’s back in future.
“I’ll be supporting the club in their appeal and writing to the Premier League to ask them to rescind it. This is about fairness, not partisan rivalry.”
This is an excessive and grossly unfair punishment for a single charge – and makes a rod for the PL’s back in future.
I’ll be supporting the club in their appeal and writing to the Premier League to ask them to rescind it.
As we mentioned earlier, Everton have confirmed that they plan to appeal the verdict.
The Toffees, who were 14th in the Premier League table, have dropped down to 19th now, level on points with bottom-place Burnley. Sean Dyche’s men are only ahead on goal difference.
That puts Everton in another relegation battle, which is something Sean Dyche and co could’ve done without after a relatively decent start to the campaign.
Everton have 14 days to lodge their appeal. If it proves successful and the decision-makers withdraw the punishment, they will be back to a much safer position in the table.
