Leeds United and Leicester City ‘riled up’ amid Everton controversy with Premier League to blame – Sky Sports pundit
We’re delighted to welcome former Everton striker Kevin Campbell as our exclusive columnist. Each week the former Toffees captain will be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Goodison Park…
Kevin Campbell has pointed the finger of blame at the Premier League for Leeds United and Leicester supposedly being upset about the finances and Everton.
A Daily Mail report on 16 May claimed that the Toffees were under threat of legal action from their relegation rivals for as much as £100million each, should Sean Dyche keep them up and the club be found guilty at the independent commission hearing for their alleged profit and sustainability breach – subsequently announced for 25 October [BBC Sport].
With the Premier League referral made public in March [BBC Sport], Campbell has criticised them for casting suspicion on the club a full seven months before any findings of guilt or otherwise can come out.
The Sky Sports pundit exclusively told Goodison News: “They might as well have kept quiet about it because what’s the point in bringing it out if it can come back to bite you?
“That’s basically what it’s done, Everton staying up last day of the season. That’s got Leeds and Leicester riled up.
“And rightly so they will try everything because it’s a massive hit on your club [to go down], but that’s down to the Premier League, they’re crazy to come out with all this stuff and not dealing with it at the time.”
Alex Crook of talkSPORT also suggested on 31 May there could be “ramifications” from the hierarchies at Elland Road and the King Power after the relegation battle was settled, but so far there has been nothing towards that end.
The fact that there are increasing reports of negotiations between Everton and Leeds to sign players from the relegated side suggests the discord was overblown.
The Premier League may have been compelled by process to make the referral public at the time, but with football continuing regardless until the hearing is held it certainly provides an opportunity for outrage that might end up being entirely unfounded.