My statement: Everton Football Club’s 10-point Premier League deduction is disproportionate.

Visiting Bramley Moore Stadium with my colleague Ian Byrne MP for Liverpool West Derby to show our solidarity with Everton FC.

Following the recent decision by the Premier League’s Commission to deduct 10 points from Everton Football Club I visited Bramley Moore Stadium to express my support to the club and to raise my concerns about this decision.

While I accept – as do the club - that Everton had breached the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Regulations (PSR), the severity of the penalty imposed is, in my view, disproportionate.

The decision to impose a 10-point deduction on the club is excessive considering the club’s willingness to collaborate with the Premier League and the Commission’s understanding of their desire to remain PSR compliant alongside the ruling’s acknowledgement that this was not a deliberate attempt to breach or gain a sporting advantage.

When compared with sanctions handed to other clubs for comparative financial infringements, Everton’s punishment exceeds those previously applied to others. The fact that Everton, in exceeding its allowed deficit by £19.5m in 2021, is treated more harshly than other clubs that were promoted into the Premier League by breaking the EFL’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations is concerning.

Everton FC is due to move into its new stadium-Bramley-Moore Dock in my constituency-which yet-to-be-completed and is at a very delicate stage in its negotiations with potential new owners, 777 Partners. The 10-point deduction imposed by the Premier League could have a serious impact both on the club’s potential ownership (and subsequent finances) as well as the completion of new stadium. This will have a disastrous impact on the club, the players, the fans – and the wider community around the stadium.

Therefore, I have written to Richard Masters the Chief Executive Officer of the Premier League to express my concerns and ask that during the appeal process the Premier League at alternative sanctions which are fairer and proportionate.

In my view, the treatment of Everton demonstrates the importance of the Government’s proposed Independent Football Regulator (IFR) that is why I have signed Early Day Motion 79 and written to the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport calling for the immediate implementation of an IFR. This will help to safeguard the game, enforce compliance with the financial regulations, establish new regulatory oversight on governance, club ownership, fan engagement and competition – and apply breaches of regulations oversights fairly and proportionately.

As a Scouser and a football fan, I am immensely proud that Everton is a founding member of the Football League and, indeed, the Premier League, and their success and survival is vital to the make up of our city. I will continue to support the club throughout their appeal process.