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Ex-Everton CEO: Points deduction 'could now be suspended' amid 'pressure from Man City and Chelsea'
Ex-Everton chief Keith Wyness has backed the club’s 10-point deduction to be “significantly reduced” or even suspended after the conclusion of the appeal process.
The 66-year-old, who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs, suggested Man City and Chelsea – who are facing their own Premier League charges – could now “put pressure on” and make sure the punishment is reduced.
Last month, Everton were ruled by an independent commission to have breached the Premier League’s financial and sustainability rules and were subsequently handed a 10-point deduction.
The Merseyside club have confirmed they will appeal the decision after stating that the outcome of their case was “wholly disproportionate and unjust”.
Premier League clubs are allowed to record an overall loss of £105million over a three-year period, but Everton exceeded that figure by an additional £19.5million in the period up to the 2021-22 campaign.
Nevertheless, Football Insider revealed last month (18 November) that the Toffees expect their 10-point deduction to be reduced after their appeal.
Wyness echoed that revelation and also claimed a reduction in the punishment is also in the best interest of Man City and Chelsea.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, he said: “We’ve got to wait until the appeal.
“Until we know the final punishment for Everton, we have no idea about the scale that will be applied to other clubs.
“My own opinion is that there will be a significant reduction in the points deduction.
“It could even be suspended.
“You’d have to then look at how that would sit with a potential Man City punishment for their alleged breaches.
“It’s also in City and Chelsea’s interest to put the pressure on and make sure this punishment gets reduced.”
In other news, Everton set sights on Aston Villa star.