Stan Collymore in ‘popcorn time’ reaction to Everton punishment as ‘a lot of sympathy’ mooted
Everton will have “a lot of sympathy” if other clubs are not treated in the same way after their 10-point deduction, according to Stan Collymore.
The pundit reacted via Twitter on 17 November to the news that the independent commission had chosen to impose such a punishment on the Toffees for a breach of profit and sustainability rules, claiming it was “popcorn time” as he waits to see what comes next.
With Manchester City facing over 100 charges, which they deny, and Chelsea facing an investigation over payments made during Roman Abramovich’s reign [Guardian, 15 November], Collymore suggested that rivals will feel supportive of Everton if the authorities don’t come down hard elsewhere.
Collymore wrote: “The Premier League have taken on one of the Founding Fathers of English football, Everton.
“Everton will have a lot of sympathy in the Premier League “dressing room” should other clubs not be treated as Everton have today.
“Popcorn time.”
Precident
Everton are appealing the ruling so whether this points deduction stands in the end is still to be determined, but the intent from the authorities is clear.
The leak that the Premier League was seeking a 12-point penalty during the hearing [Telegraph, 25 October] made it obvious that they weren’t planning to go lightly on the Toffees, despite having apparently worked closely together in the months prior to the referral to the commission.
If this is now the going punishment for a single charge it is hard to imagine what the league must be eyeing when it comes to City, and potentially now Chelsea somewhere down the line.
Having made such a strong statement against Everton in this instance it seems impossible for the authorities to do anything else when it comes to other clubs.
But when the Toffees’ single charge appears to have been fast-tracked ahead of Manchester City’s 100-plus, while the European Super League’s attempted breakaway six were only made to pay a combined £22million penalty [Sky Sports], there won’t be much confidence in Everton circles that the rules are being evenly applied.
This blow doesn’t necessarily consign the Toffees into relegation and financial oblivion, but the knock-on effects are hard to determine yet, and it is obviously not good news either way.
But it is sure to have a galvanising effect among the fanbase, and likely within the dressing room, which Sean Dyche will have no choice but to harness in an attempt to claw those points back.
In other Everton news, Paul Merson has already made clear why the Toffees won’t go down this year live on Sky Sports.