Alex Crook shares Everton appeal update from ‘legal experts’ live on talkSPORT
Alex Crook has shared an update on Everton and their appeal against their 10-point deduction, suggesting “legal experts” are pessimistic about the Toffees chances.
Sean Dyche’s side currently sit one point outside the Premier League’s relegation zone after 18 matches, having been deducted 10 points having been adjudged to have broken the division’s profit and sustainability rules.
Almost immediately the Toffees appealed the punishment awarded to them, but they are still awaiting the outcome of their appeal, with talkSPORT football correspondent Crook suggesting Everton’s chances of success are slim.
Speaking on talkSPORT (27 December, 12:53) he said: “They do [have to be careful], obviously we are still waiting to see what happens with their appeal against that 10-point penalty.
“Although, legal experts that I have spoken to aren’t particularly convinced that they are going to be successful in that appeal, but their recent performances certainly deserve them to have a bigger buffer to that bottom three.”
It was always going to be hard for Everton to fight against this point deduction as the independent commission has already found them guilty once and is therefore unlikely to change their verdict after having a second look at the case.
The Toffees have all but admitted that they have broken the Premier League’s financial fair play rules, their issue comes more with the punishment handed down to them, which they and most of the footballing world have deemed to be too severe.
Although Everton’s performances have improved in recent weeks, the teams around them, in particular Luton and Bournemouth have started to pick up points and the gap between them and the bottom three has once again closed.
Even if the points deduction was reduced to seven or five points, it would massively increase Everton’s chances of staying up this season. Hopefully, their appeal will have more hope than Crook has initially suggested.
Most legal experts hadn’t predicted that the Toffees would be deducted 10 points initially so there has to be some element of scepticism around their new verdict. This sort of punishment is unprecedented and nobody in the footballing world knows what is coming next.
