Everton: Peter Reid slams Premier League over ‘unfair’ punishment, states what must now happen
Peter Reid has hit out at the Premier League over the “unfair” decision to hit Everton with two separate points deductions.
Everton were docked 10 points earlier in the season, later reduced to six, before having two more taken away earlier this month.
Nottingham Forest also had four points deducted, but Reid wants the Premier League to show more transparency over how decisions are made.
“It’s unfair, unbalanced, unbelievable,” he told the Daily Mail [20 April]. “I speak to a lot of the fans, even Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, and I’m not sure anyone can get their heads round how the Premier League come to these decisions.
“It definitely needs greater transparency because it’s confusing the life out of supporters and clubs alike. We have seen four different panels each come up with different findings for how they determine Everton’s punishment and there’s another two hearings to come after the season. It’s crazy.
“If you break the rules then it should just be a financial penalty. The problem you have with points deductions is the knock-on effect. If a club goes down because of it, you’re risking job losses not just at the football club but in the community.
“Everton have a massive impact on the local community and these decisions made by people miles away from the area put that at risk.”
Everton and Nottingham Forest awaiting points appeal news
Reid is spot on with what he says. The first appeal verdict shows just how flawed the whole process is, with different panels coming to different conclusions.
Forest had four points deducted yet posted a bigger loss than Everton, who have been hit with two charges that relates to the same period of time.
It is little wonder that the Premier League is doing away with the current PSR guidelines from this summer, albeit only after trying their best to relegate Everton.
Forest have also lodged an appeal against their deduction, which just makes for a farcical scenario in which nobody truly knows what is required to stay up.
As Reid says, clubs getting relegated can impact the lives of hundreds of people. Everton have not been good enough on the field in the second of this season, but what has happened to them off the field has been nothing short of a joke.
In other Everton news, a further nine-point deduction has been mooted by Alex Crook.
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