Everton second point deduction appeal to be heard week of Sheffield United match
Everton second point deduction appeal to be heard week of Sheffield United match
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Everton: Something has gone really wrong at Sheffield United after Goodison update

Jonathan Burnett
Jonathan Burnett

Jonny is a University of Leeds journalism graduate who became part of the FootballInsider team in Spring 2024, and recently worked as Head of Media for Widnes Vikings Rugby League club. Writing as a freelance reporter and commentator for The Sporting News and StatsPerform, he has covered matches in competitions including the FIFA Men's and Women's World Cups, as well as the Champions League, Women's Euro 2022, Six Nations and the Rugby Union World Cup.

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Everton's position above the Premier League relegation zone following two points deductions is a damning indictment on Sheffield United's current situation, says Robbie Fowler.

Everton go into their game against Chelsea two points clear of Sheffield United, Burnley and Luton in the bottom three, and in today's, Fowler said in the Sunday Mirror that the Blades "appear to be doomed" in their fight to stay up.

The 16th-placed Toffees are two points clear of Luton with two games in hand, and would be 14th had they not had eight points deducted in two separate financial fair play penalties, while Forest below them have also seen four points docked for similar breaches.

In his Mirror column (page 67, 14 April), Fowler said: "Relegation always leaves a bitter taste, but it will be a lot worse at Bramall Lane this year because fellow strugglers Everton and Forest have both had points deducted. If you can't keep your heads above the drop zone in those circumstances, then something really has gone wrong."

Points deductions casting shadow over Everton's survival fight

Everton have headlined a season mired by the coming home to roost of several FFP chickens, with their initial 10-point deduction in November being the largest ever inflicted on a Premier League team.

An appeal reduced this penalty to six points, but a further two were chalked off on 8 April after new findings in a hearing, either side of Forest being hit with a four-point deduction of their own in March.

Fowler's column in the Sunday Mirror highlighted Burnley and Sheffield United's so-far futile efforts to stay up, and lambasted both sides' ability to shoot themselves in the foot.
Fowler's column in the Sunday Mirror highlighted Burnley and Sheffield United's so-far futile efforts to stay up, and lambasted both sides' ability to shoot themselves in the foot.

Sheffield United were also recently hit with a two-point penalty which will only come into place if the Blades are relegated back to the Championship, although given Chris Wilder's side are 10 points adrift with six games to play and have won just three times all season, you'd assume that's more a case of when, rather than if.

The form of the sides below them, particularly Sheffield United and Burnley, could well prove to be the saving grace of Everton's season, but with plenty of this relegation race left to run, Sean Dyche will be hoping that the Toffees' latest points deduction will galvanise rather than demoralise his squad.

In other Everton news, the third-party debt has now risen to over £500million as the Toffees have had to shell out an eight-figure payment as chaos ensues.

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