Andros Townsend Claims Points Deductions Make a ‘Mockery of the Premier League’ After Everton Were Punished for a Second Time This Season Over Breaching Financial Rules
Andros Townsend, the Luton star, has criticized the Premier League for deducting points from teams for breaching financial rules, saying it makes a “mockery” of the top flight. Townsend’s comments come after Everton were sanctioned for the second time this season, having already been docked 10 points in November. The Toffees were dealt another blow in their turbulent season as they were handed a further two-point deduction by the Premier League for breaching their financial rules.
Everton’s first penalty was later reduced to six on appeal, before the club were hit with a second breach, which relates to the three-year accounting period ending in the 2022-23 campaign. The first was connected to the three-year period that ended in the 2021-22 season. The latest deduction sees Everton move just two points above the drop zone, heightening fears they could be sent down to the Championship.
Townsend, who used to play for Everton, said points deductions “make a mockery of the Premier League.” He added that clubs were not aware that punishments would be this severe despite some “knowing” their spending would not be within the rules.
While Townsend’s Luton technically benefit from the sanctions, the 32-year-old winger said the uncertainty meant his side could not celebrate because there was too much “confusion” around appeals. He said, “We were probably celebrating when Everton got 10 points taken off them, and then they got four given back, and we’re back in the relegation zone. So we take out the deductions to take away the confusion, and we’ll see at the end of the season.”
Nottingham Forest was docked four points in March for falling foul of PSR regulations, and they too launched an appeal. Townsend criticized the Premier League for not being certain of the points deduction when announcing the charge. He said, “When you announce the charge, you have to be certain of the points deduction.”
Everton’s club statement in response said it would appeal against the decision. The Club’s position has been that no further sanction was appropriate, and it is pleased to see that the Commission has given credit to the majority of the issues raised by the Club, including the concept of double punishment, the significant mitigating circumstances facing the Club due to the war in Ukraine, and the high level of co-operation and early admission of the Club’s breach.
The Club and its legal representatives have begun the preparations to appeal the Commission’s decision. Everton remains committed to working collaboratively with the League on all matters relating to PSR but is extremely concerned by the inconsistency of different commissions in respect of points deductions applied.
The Premier League insisted that “any breach of the PSRs is significant and justifies, indeed requires, a sporting sanction.”