Joe Anderson has accused the authorities of having a “agenda” against Everton and its fans following the club’s second points deduction.
The former Liverpool mayor responded fiercely on Twitter on April 8 after the Toffees were docked two additional points, calling it a “disgrace” that the Premier League sanctioned the team twice in the same season.
He cited the various situations on Merseyside that the club has unsuccessfully argued in mitigation, while bemoaning the “attack on fans who have done nothing wrong” after Sean Dyche’s side was dropped to 16th in the league table, and implying that other clubs, such as Manchester City, will escape with no points sanctions once the current rules are changed.
Anderson wrote: “The PSR covers three years when we had COVID, Ukraine, and stadium costs, so giving an 8-point deduction in one season is an attack on fans who have done nothing wrong.”
“Fact: These regulations will alter, allowing others to escape. EFC and Forest were the only two teams fined, and EFC fans were punished twice.
“There is a definite agenda against EFC and, in particular, its fans. A extra 2 points in the same season when the PL has already awarded 6 points for PSR violations is a shame.
“The rules will be changed & City & others will avoid any deductions under these rules EFC reward for cooperating.”
Joe Anderson furious as Everton and Nottingham Forest now have three combined deductions this term
Anderson will not be the only one on Merseyside who feels this way, and the fact that this appears to be just the beginning of the problems with the present administration will irritate him and the club’s supporters even more.
Two points in isolation may not seem like much, but when combined with the original punishment of six, which was only reduced from ten on appeal, Sean Dyche and the players face a significant challenge.
Following Nottingham Forest’s surprisingly mild four-point penalty, there was some hope that the Toffees would be able to escape without further loss.
The PSR cover 3 years when we had COVID,Ukraine,Stadium costs so to give a deduction of 8 points in one season is an attack on fans who have done no wrong. Fact these rules will change&will allow others to escape
With EFC & Forest the only 2 teams to be punished, EFC fans twice— Joe Anderson (@joeando58) April 8, 2024
Joe Anderson reacted furiously to the latest Everton points deduction.
There is clearly an agenda against EFC & in particular the fans. A further 2 points in the same season as PL have already given 6 points for breaches of PSR is a disgrace.The rules will be changed&City&others will avoid any deductions under these rules EFC reward for cooperating
— Joe Anderson (@joeando58) April 8, 2024
He branded the situation at Goodison Park a “disgrace” due to an “agenda”.
However, the subsequent revelation of the club’s records revealed that those aspirations were maybe misplaced, as huge losses in the 2022/23 season prevented Everton from claiming that their condition was improving.
Given the double jeopardy argument that two of the three years in question for this breach had already been punished in relation to the previous one, it appeared that a one-point penalty might be a reasonable goal this time, but it will require another appeal to achieve that, if possible.
The fact that the spending limits are likely to alter in the near future appears to be an acknowledgement that the current ones have failed, but this will do little for Everton, who are by far the team impacted the most before they are changed.
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