Everton have been deducted a further two points by the Premier League.
The news broke just yesterday, as the independent commission published their verdict on the Toffees’ latest set of accounts, adjudging them to have overspent by £16m.
As such, a further punishment was necessary in their eyes.
However, not everyone agrees with this second sanction.
Andy Burnham sends message to the Premier League
Taking to X, as he has done so often this season to offer his support to Everton, Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, has sought to lambast the Premier League for their treatment once again.
Having been left furious by their November ruling, which saw a ten-point deduction justified, this latest one is not nearly as severe, but still remains frustrating.
The 54-year-old is one such disgruntled example, as he would write: ‘So we now know that the @premierleague have tried to take 17 points off @everton this season.
‘We have ended up with double the penalty despite a similar level of breach as Forest.
‘We should fight back against this injustice with everything we have got and keep all options open.’
Everton gain huge political backing
Burnham has been a vocal supporter of Everton throughout this entire mess, offering condemnations for the Premier League and uplifting words for his beloved blues.
To have such a high-profile figure fighting their corner so vociferously has been key to ensuring that the Premier League are not allowed to go unchallenged in their efforts to wipe the Toffees off the face of the top flight.
As one of England’s richest and most historic clubs, its unrelenting treatment at the hands of such a power-hungry institution has been laughable, only further reinforcing the lack of trust many clubs already had in the organisation.
And it is so obvious where their motivations for such strict punishments have come from, only furthering unrest.
The prospect of a government regulator likely has Richard Masters petrified, and these attacks on Everton and Nottingham Forest are nothing but thinly veiled and last-gasp attempts to save face.
Well, if anything it has only whipped up a political frenzy even more, with many MPs rushing to Everton’s side alongside Burnham.
‘The lack of transparency and consistency from the PL around this entire process is once again evident and is why the club and supporters are rightly furious. Good luck @Everton in challenging it and you have my full support,’ wrote Ian Byrne MP.
Another vote of support came from Paula Barker MP: ’Disappointed to see that @Everton has had a further points deduction. The inconsistency of different commissions in respect of the application of points deductions, needs to be fully scrutinised.
‘As always, I will support the club, players & fans any way I can.’