Everton have formally appealed the decision to deduct 10 points from the club for breaching the Premier League’s winning and sustainability rules. The result is expected for the new year.
Everton admitted breaching financial rules at an independent commission hearing in October but are demanding a penalty they say is disproportionate and unfair. It is the largest sporting sanction in the history of the Premier League.
A statement from the club said: “Everton Football Club has today appealed to the Chairman of the Premier League Judicial Panel against the decision of a Premier League Commission to impose a 10-point deduction on the Club.” An appeals committee will now be set up to deals with the case.”
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Everton’s description of a “Premier League Commission” differs from the league’s statement on the appointment and suggests tensions between the two over their interpretation of the Commission’s independence. The Premier League said Everton had “appealed against the decision of an independent commission to impose a 10-point deduction on the club after it admitted breaching the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules.”
The chairman of the Premier League’s judicial panel, Murray Rosen KC, appointed the three-member commission that heard the Everton case. Rosen will also select the board that hears Everton’s appeal from a judicial panel of 15 to 20 members. The panel was set up by the Premier League, which had filed a lawsuit against Everton, although it is Rosen who selects its members. The three members of the judicial panel who handed Everton the 10-point penalty – David Phillips KC, Alan Greenwood and Nick Igoe – cannot be selected for the appeal panel.
Everton’s Supporters Advisory Board (FAB) has written to Premier League chairwoman Alison Brittain asking that fans’ views be taken into account in the appeal process. The FAB also criticized the league for failing to take into account the impact of a points deduction on fans and accused it of breaking commitments it made when it introduced the “fan engagement standard” in March. It is understood the Premier League has received the letter but has not yet responded.
The letter, sent by FAB chairman Dave Kelly, said: “The Premier League has rightly stated: ‘It is important that we ensure fans’ voices are heard not only in the stands, but also when it’s about having a say in the key.’ Problems related to their clubs. In this context, we would like to express our significant concern that at no point in the process which, in our opinion, has resulted in the disproportionate penalty against Everton Football Club, nor in the review and making recommendations on its potential for a disproportionate penalty What sanctions should be imposed for a breach, has the Premier League considered or taken into account the views of fans?
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Kelly added: “One of the guiding principles of the Fan Led Review is to ensure that regulatory sanctions have as little impact on fans as possible. This (the 10-point penalty) has a direct impact on fans who have had no input into the running of the club and have made clear their concerns about its leadership, direction and operations. Such a severe penalty also potentially jeopardizes the significant community benefits that the construction of the new stadium will bring as it regenerates north Liverpool and boosts job creation and the local economy.”
