Andy Burnham now ‘more concerned’ by Everton case after ‘highly problematic’ Premier League reply
Andy Burnham says the reply he received from the Premier League over the Everton points deduction has left him “more concerned” about the case.
The Greater Manchester mayor published on Twitter his latest letter (2 December) to league chair Alison Brittain where he called her response “highly problematic”.
Burnham had previously slammed the “flawed” process where he claimed the rules had been made up on the fly.
Burnham wrote: “I have replied to the letter I received from the Premier League. If anything, I am now MORE concerned about the handling of Everton’s case.”
In his letter to Brittain he said it was “highly problematic” and raised “serious issues” that there appeared to be inconsistencies in her response to him and the independent commission’s own claims regarding the Premier League’s proposed sanctions, introduced shortly before the October hearing.
Burnham goes on to suggest that the Premier League’s intended “formula” would be an issue whether it was intended for use just in Everton’s case or in others going forward, while questioning how the commission reached such a similar punishment decision as the league had argued for.
He ends the letter to ask if the minutes of the 10 August Premier League board, and Richard Masters’ witness statement to the commission, would be published.
Not backing down
It remains to be seen whether Burnham’s involvement leads to anything tangible for Everton, or forces the authorities to clarify the situation with regards to all other clubs going forward.
There certainly seem to be answers needed over the fact that in 2020 Premier League clubs rejected the introduction of a similar sanctions policy to the EFL and yet the top flight appears to have tried to bring something that looks very much like that in quietly when Everton’s hearing was on the horizon.
Since the commission, in theory, noticed all of these elements and rejected the league’s suggestions anyway it presumably wouldn’t form part of the appeal argument for the club, even if it feels uncomfortable.
There is thought to be a good chance among legal experts that the Toffees can at least get their points deduction reduced on the basis of it being disproportionate.
But there does at least seem to be questions around the Premier League’s conduct in a more general sense towards Everton, even if it doesn’t end up having a material bearing on the outcome of this case itself.
To ensure confidence in the rules and the system the authorities should be held to a high standard of behaviour, and right now there is a clear sense that that hasn’t been the case.
In other Everton news, the Toffees are set to avoid the threat of legal action from rivals that could have sent them into administration.