MP takes up Everton case as controversy over points deduction continues to grow
In a very unusual step a Liverpool MP is going to table a motion in Parliament condemming the ten point deduction Everton received on Friday for FFP breaches.
While the football world has been shaken by the Premier League’s commission and it’s decision to dock the Blues an unprecedented number of points for a single financial transgression, even MPs are now getting on board.
Ian Byrne who is the MP for the West Derby constituency, has decided to take up the case against the harsh punishment imposed on Everton, all the way to the House of Commons.
It has come to something when a decision regarding technical and financial matters by the football authorities, is so controversial that MPs are wading in on behalf of the club involved.
Ever since Friday’s announcement all sorts of people within football and now outside it, have been having their say on the commission’s hugely draconian penalty.
I’m not sure if the Premier League and commission expected this level of reaction and sustained comment – the majority of it highly critical, although they should have – of the decision to dock the Toffees more points even than a club receives upon going into adminstration.
If they thought optimistically this would all blow over in a few days, I think that hope has been well and truly dispelled.
We all know the arguments by now and it is clear to most commentators that this is grossly excessive punishment for one financial breach, which could and should have been treated much more reasonably.
Well now MPs are set to potentially debate it and so the story is likely to have a continuing national exposure in Parliament as well.
While I don’t know what effect this might have on what happens from now on, it can surely only help bolster Everton’s cause to have this further increased exposure of the situation.
Byrne’s intervention comes after the Mayor of Liverpool also made a statement attacking the commission’s decision and calling it a ‘ludicrous’ punishment.
All of this political pressure has built up as the club await the outcome of their formal appeal, which they and all Evertonians hope will be successful and soon.