20 November 2023 , 10:17
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Former Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein has warned Everton's recent points deduction for breaching the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules could spell "disaster" for Manchester City and Chelsea.
Everton have been docked a record 10 points, but intend to appeal the decision having banded it a "wholly disproportionate and unjust sporting sanction" with an independent commission finding that the club had overspent by around £24million over the past five years.
Both City and Chelsea are also being investigated by the Premier League over their finances, with City notably charged with 115 Financial Fair Play breaches. An investigation into possible breaches by Chelsea began earlier this year after the club's new owners reported financial irregularities during Roman Abramovich's tenure.
Chelsea have also previously been fined £8.6million by UEFA for "submitting incomplete financial information" between 2012 and 2019. And Dein believes Everton's "extortionate" punishment could now have a major "knock-on effect" on clubs like City and Chelsea.
"One has to differentiate between the Premier League charging and what happens after that," Dein said on talkSPORT. "It is an independent tribunal, the Premier League actually has nothing to do with the result and the decision.
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"The Premier League do the charging but do not do the judgement. To me, it seems extortionate but there you are. It could have a knock-on effect at other clubs and that would be a disaster."
Dein also questioned whether Everton's punishment fits their crime, citing the impact of the pandemic and the construction of their new Bramley-Moore Dock stadium as mitigating factors. "I actually thought the penalty was excessive," he added.
Everton have been hit with a 10-point deduction (PA)"I'd probably go as far as to say over the top. It is all about proportionality and whether the penalty reacts against the crime and what is the proportion there? There was Covid, they were building a new stadium, and in the scheme of things I think it was all about £19million.
"When you think about how much money is spent in football today, it is not an extraordinary amount of money." Everton will be back in action for the first time since being hit with the points deduction on Sunday when they host Manchester United at Goodison Park, with fans set to stage a protest against the sanction.
A GoFundMe page set up by The1878s Fan Group has raised over £35,000 that will "go towards making Goodison Park atmosphere as hostile and electric as it can be at a pivotal time for Everton Football Club".