‘It seems unfair to Everton’ – MP criticizes Premier League for waiting for Man City’s 115 charges

A senior MP says ‘it seems unfair to teams like Everton’ that it is taking the Premier League so long to deal with Manchester City’s 115 alleged financial rule breaches.

While the Premier League recommended Everton be deducted 17 points this season and the club were hit with two separate points deductions, the first being 10 points in November – a penalty which was later reduced to six points on appeal – then two more. Deducting the points in April, Man City have just become the first team from this country to be crowned champions four seasons in a row, despite a catalog of accusations linked to financial fair play which weigh on them.

Caroline Dinenage, chair of the government’s culture, media and sport committee, suggested it was “unfair” for clubs like Everton and Nottingham Forest who have been punished this season for their own accusations of profiteering rules and of sustainability. She also questioned comments made by Premier League CEO Richard Masters to the committee about “big clubs and small clubs”.

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Masters were asked whether smaller clubs should be expected to bear the same legal costs as wealthier clubs, saying: “I said these standard instructions are for everyone. They are not reserved for small clubs. He then clarified in a letter: “It would be incorrect to infer that there is unfair treatment based on the size of the club. »

Now Dinenage has told the House the committee was “perplexed” by Masters’ comments, which she said pointed to a “two-tier system” from which City would benefit. “It sometimes feels like there’s kind of a two-tiered system here,” she said. “When the Premier League boss came to give evidence to the select committee, he spoke of ‘big clubs’ and ‘small clubs’.

“The whole committee found this a bit confusing, because in reality there should not be different standards of behavior depending on the size of the club.”