Everton fans have staged a protest outside the Premier League’s headquarters in London in response to the club’s 10-point punishment for breaching financial regulations.
The Toffees were handed the sanction by an independent commission last week after they exceeded losses permitted under the league’s profitability and sustainability rules by £19.5million in the three seasons ending in 2021-22.
Manager Sean Dyche expressed shock at the “disproportionate” penalty on Friday, a sentiment shared by the fans who gathered outside the Premier League’s offices in Paddington, west London.
Paul, 36, who lives in East Dulwich but is originally from St Helens, is a season-ticket holder who will be at Sunday’s game against Manchester United.
He told the PA news agency that the points deduction “felt draconian”, adding: “It just feels like the rules were deliberately vague to give flexibility for this kind of situation.
“I think Everton have been deliberately targeted because of the threat of an independent regulator, and that feels wrong.”
Alan Newton, 46, who lives in London but is originally from Maghull, held a season ticket for 10 years.
He told PA: “Nobody’s saying that we’re not guilty as a club of anything, but the points that have been taken off is far too harsh a penalty.
“Do I think that some of the other bigger clubs are going to get penalties like this or it’s going to play out the same? Probably not.
“I think the likelihood is we’ll get a reduced penalty, it’ll set a precedent for other clubs, and we’ll see what happens next.”
The points deduction has left Everton 19th in the table and above bottom side Burnley only on goal difference.
However, Amy Panayi, 28, who lives in Gravesend but is originally from Liverpool, does not believe the club will be relegated.
“If we just get consistency with your teams like Manchester City and Chelsea, I will take a 10-point deduction,” she told PA. “I will say I don’t think we will go down, because there’s too much fight (and) heart there.”
