Phil McNulty issues ‘let’s be careful’ admission after ‘very harsh’ Everton points deduction
It is Everton supporters that have labelled the Premier League as corrupt, rather than the club itself, as per BBC Sport chief football writer Phil McNulty.
Several Toffees fans held up signs with such thoughts during the club’s home clash with Manchester United on Sunday (26 November).
It comes after the Merseyside outfit were handed a 10-point deduction for breaching the league’s profit and sustainability rules.
On a BBC Sport Q&A (27 November), McNulty was asked the question: “Do you think that Everton have made a huge mistake in asserting that the Premier League are ‘corrupt’? Could the Appeals Committee actually increase the points deduction instead of reducing it as they hope?”
Issuing a response, McNulty wrote: “Let’s be careful here. Everton have never accused the Premier League of being ‘corrupt’ at any stage. It was the Everton supporters holding up those signs.
“Everton have made their anger and sense of injustice at the Independent Commission’s decision clear – and my opinion is that a 10-point deduction is a very harsh penalty – which they are perfectly entitled to do and will clearly fight this very strenuously on appeal. As for the points deduction being increased – not a chance.”
Tough times
These are very tricky times for Everton, who were sent all the way down to 19th place in the table following their immediate 10-point deduction.
A good run of form before the punishment saw the Toffees climb to 14th place, but they are now joint-bottom of the Premier League table on four points, level with Burnley.
They did, of course, have the chance to immediately bounce back when Manchester United visited Goodison Park, but the Red Devils ran out 3-0 winners in an easy victory.
Fortunately for Everton, the clubs around them are struggling big time, with Burnley condemned to yet another defeat at the hands of West Ham on Saturday (25 November).
And it may just be the struggles of the likes of Burnley, Sheffield United and Luton Town that save the Toffees from relegation this season, with the three recently promoted clubs finding it very difficult back in the top flight.
In other Everton news, Peter Reid has shared what drove him “mad” about the 10-point deduction handed to the Toffees.