Premier League club Everton is "formulating its strategy for overturning" its "wholly disproportionate punishment" for breaking profit and sustainability (PSR) regulations, and it "may include zeroing in on one element of the judgment by an independent commission" to do it. The EPL's "failure to adopt a detailed 'sanction policy' for its financial rules could form a key plank" of Everton’s appeal against its point deduction. The original commission made clear Premier League rules "gave it the power to impose a range of sanctions that include deducting points," and that although the English Football League "did have sanctioning guidelines, commissions were not bound by them." An appeal board "would also have the power to increase Everton’s sanction," but the prospect of it doing so "is remote." Everton’s appeal "must be lodged by December 1" (London TELEGRAPH, 11/20).
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Labour MP lan Byrne has "tabled an 'early day motion' in parliament condemning Everton's 10-point deduction" and "called for an independent football regulator to be established immediately." Byrne said the points deduction was "grossly unjust" and that the level of sanction lacked "any legal or equitable foundation or justification" (REUTERS, 11/20).
The fallout from the decision "continues to reverberate throughout football," with Everton supporters "planning protests against the Premier League" during Sunday’s televised game against Manchester United at Goodison Park (London TIMES, 11/20).
