Kieran Maguire has raised questions about the rationale behind the Premier League’s decision to deduct points from Everton, particularly when comparing it to previous instances where clubs faced financial penalties instead. The financial expert drew attention to cases involving Queens Park Rangers and Leicester, both of which received financial sanctions for past financial breaches, unlike the points deduction imposed on Everton.
Maguire acknowledged the complexity of the situation, highlighting the lack of clarity when examining comparable cases. He pointed out that Queens Park Rangers, promoted in 2014 amid financial irregularities, and Leicester City and Bournemouth, both facing financial issues upon promotion, were subjected to financial penalties. This led to the question of why Everton did not receive a similar financial sanction.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58266939/835794454.jpg.0.jpg)
Maguire, speaking on The Price Of Football podcast on November 27, emphasized the challenges in drawing definitive comparisons due to the unique nature of this being the first case related to Financial Fair Play (FFP) charges since its inception in 2013. He cited instances involving Swindon Town and Luton Town as examples of sporting sanctions but noted the differences in circumstances, involving administrations and illegal payments rather than overpayments.
While the comparisons with QPR and Leicester seem relevant due to their recency and the involvement of the Premier League in imposing sanctions, Maguire highlighted the unprecedented nature of Everton’s case as the first major FFP breach since the rule’s introduction. Consequently, Everton’s ten-point deduction serves as a benchmark for future breaches, with Manchester City currently under investigation, and the outcome of that case will offer a more comparable basis for evaluating the severity of sanctions.
In unrelated Everton news, Sky Sports explained their coverage of Everton’s protests.
Leave a Reply