Everton was banned from signing academy players for two years and "hit" with a £500,000 ($652,875) fine after admitting to "tapping up schoolboys," according to Paul Joyce of the LONDON TIMES. The severity of the punishment handed out by the Premier League "outstrips" those handed to Liverpool and Man City in recent seasons. An investigation after an anonymous tip into claims Everton had offered inducements to a Cardiff City youngster in '16 "resulted in several other instances in which the Goodison Park club had illegally approached youngsters coming to light." Everton admitted the initial allegation and the club's internal inquiry established that "similar misconduct had occurred in relation to six other academy players." Everton suspended Head of Academy Recruitment Martin Waldron upon beginning its own probe. In a statement, Everton said that it was "extremely disappointed with some of the practices we have found which are not in line with our values and not acceptable to Everton Football Club" (LONDON TIMES, 11/8).
