Everton: Phil Jagielka baffled by Manchester City FFP silence in Toffees relegation verdict
Everton supporters are right to feel baffled that they remain the only Premier League side to be deducted points for breaching profit and sustainability rules, according to Phil Jagielka.
The Toffees were deducted 10 points earlier this season for breaking the Premier League’s financial fair play rules, a charge that they have since appealed, only to then have a second breach levelled at them which could lead to further punishment.
Sean Dyche’s side has been left stranded in the relegation zone and former defender Jagielka thinks that supporters have every right to feel “victimised” when teams like Manchester City have continued to avoid punishment.
Speaking on talkSPORT on Tuesday (14 February) he said: “I can’t believe that there’s only one club that’s ever made bad decisions financially since the Premier League started.
“There’s only one team that’s been deducted points. I don’t know the ins and outs and whether the rules have changed, blah, blah, blah, but if other clubs have got away with it, you can’t say it’s still pending, these investigations are pending for 25 years, who is going to care what’s gone on?
“We don’t know enough information where maybe 95 of Man City’s counts were done before they changed the rules because they don’t give us enough information, they don’t really let us know. All we’re left to do is speculate.
“Evertonians are going to feel victimised as will Forest fans if Forest get points deducted and they end up going down or someone else does. I was at Derby and stuff was done wrong and it was points after points after points.
“You’re basically saying in a roundabout way that you’ve done wrong, now you’re going to pay the price which is automatically going to be relegation. It seems like something quite similar when you look at what’s going on at Everton.”
Everton targeted while Manchester City remain unpunished
No one knows the ins and outs of Manchester City or any other Premier League’s accounts, but it does seem unfair that Dyche’s side are fighting for their future at the bottom of the table while the champions once again mount a title charge.
Everton may well be able to avoid the drop into the Championship and they could also see their points deduction reduced, but at the moment it feels like they are one of the only sides facing the wrath of the league.
Supporters have been vocal in their protests in recent weeks and that is unlikely to change between now and the end of the season, especially as fans continue to wait for the result of the Blues’ appeal.
Hopefully, Dyche’s side can rediscover their form and avoid a similar fate to that of Jagielka’s Derby County, but the current feeling around Goodison Park remains fairly ominous.
In other Everton news, Michael Ball has slammed Martin Keown for his treatment of one Toffees star on Match Of The Day
For more Everton news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.