An Everton fan group, NSNOW, has slammed the Premier League for their decision to impose a 10-point sanction on the Merseyside club, questioning why Toffees fans are being punished after Super League rebel clubs received ‘measly fines’.
The sanctions were made against the Blues after they had breached the league’s profit and sustainability rules, making a loss of £372million over a three-year period – £122m more than the £250m permitted by the league.
The decision, which has rocked English football, has subsequently seen the Blues drop from 14th to 19th in the Premier League standings – level with Burnley at the bottom rung of the table.
NSNOW, who were formally known as the 27 Years Campaign, had been formed to protest a lack of communication and leadership from within the club’s hierarchy, taking their name from the number of years since Everton last won a major trophy (now 28).
The group consists of several different fan organisations, including well known fan forums like ToffeeWeb, Blue Kipper and the Everton Fans Forum. Today, NSNOW issued a statement branding the Premier League’s controversial ruling as ‘disappointing’ while also claiming that fans will suffer from the ruling.
An Everton fan group has slammed the Premier League for their decision to impose a 10-point deduction on the Merseyside club
The group, which is made up of several supporters’ organisations, criticised the ruling citing the ‘measly’ fines imposed on rebel Super League clubs
They added that it was the club’s supporters who would suffer from the points deduction, which has been imposed after Everton broke financial profit and sustainability rules
The statement, which was posted on X (formerly Twitter) reads: ‘We write as concerned fans of Everton Football Club. The punishment handed out today by an independent commission is disappointing, to say the least.
‘Whilst we understand the need for rules to be followed and standards upheld, this punishment only punishes the fans, players and management team.’
The club has also released several statements expressing its own disappointment at the ‘unjust’ sanctions, while insisting that they will be appealing the sanction.
Everton fans have protested the management of their club in the past two years, with the club having underperformed, narrowly avoiding relegation in the past two seasons.
Premier League table after Everton’s points penalty
Blues fans have staged several sit-in protests and marches, demanding change at the top-level of the club, calling for owner Farhad Moshiri to sell his majority share.
It comes as the club are also in the midst of building their new 52,888-seater stadium stadium on the banks of the River Mersey, which is set to cost the club £550m.
Everton are also in the midst of a takeover, with American company 777 Partners edging closer to a takeover at the club, but concerns have been raised over their prospective owners.
‘It’s no secret that our club has been run incompetently at the top for several years now,’ the statement adds.
‘The fans took it upon themselves to push for change and force the removal of an underperforming board that broke your rules.
‘The people who broke your rules are not the ones suffering.’
But the fan organisation also claimed that it was unfair for Super League rebel clubs to be given ‘measly’ financial sanctions, after they plotted to join a closed-shop European league.
‘In recent years we witnessed six clubs try to destroy the English football pyramid and line their own pockets.
‘Yet, when punishments were handed out, we were told “You can’t punish the fans, it’s not their fault” and measly fines were all that they got. Why is the same logic not applied now?’
Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham all sparked outrage when it was revealed that they had been involved in a plot to join the European franchise.
The six clubs avoided a points deduction but were fined £3.5m each, sparking outrage among many football fans online.
On Friday, many football supporters took to social media to slam the decision to deduct 10 points from Everton, with some pointing to the fines that were imposed on the Super League rebels.
The fan body also admitted that they intend to ‘push back’ against the sanctions, while admitting they were focused on helping the club stay in the Premier League this season despite receiving the points deduction.
Manager Sean Dyche now sees his side in 19th place, only off the bottom on goal difference
The Toffees, currently owned by Farhad Moshiri (right), are selling the club to Josh Wander (left) who is leading the 777 takeover, which still needs to be approved
The Toffees have won three of their last five Premier League matches, suffering only one loss
Everton strongly deny they breached PSR and their financial losses were due to the building of a new stadium at Bramley Moore Dock
‘As we have shown time and time again, the Spirit Of The Blues will hold firm and we will work All Together Now to not only make sure we survive for another top-flight season, but push back against the corruption that is ruining our beautiful sport!’
The ruling will have sparked concerns for other clubs, including Manchester City and Chelsea, with Pep Guardiola’s being hit with more than 100 financial fair play charges last season. The results of that investigation are still pending.
Meanwhile, legendary Everton goalkeeper Neville Southall said on Friday’s ruling: ‘It sounds harsh but if you broke the rules – just suck it up. If they [the Premier League] are doing Everton – they are doing other clubs as well. Otherwise it is discrimination’.
The Toffees, who had won three of their last five matches, suffering only one defeat, return to Premier League action against Manchester United at Goodison Park on Sunday, November 26.