Everton points deduction: Wyness reveals Usmanov blunder in new case – ‘I can’t believe it’
Former Everton chief Keith Wyness has claimed the ongoing war in Ukraine must see Everton given concessions in their new points deduction case.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, the 66-year-old – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – insisted he “can’t believe” the conflict was classed as a “day-to-day occurrence” in the Toffee’s first case.
Everton presented the Ukraine war, which began in 2022, as a mitigating factor in their first hearing for breaching Profitability and Sustainability Regulations (PSR) last year (2023) – but saw the reasoning rejected by an independent commission.
The conflict led the Toffees to sever business ties with Alisher Usmanov’s business USM, who had 15 commercial deals with the club.
Everton also lost out on a £200million naming rights deal with the company for their new stadium, which is set to open in the 2025-26 season.
‘The Premier League haven’t got a leg to stand on’, says Wyness
Wyness insisted any new panel should take these facts into consideration when deciding on a potential punishment in the club’s second hearing for breaching PSR.
He told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: “I think the Premier League haven’t got a leg to stand on right now.
“The mitigating issues for Everton around the Ukraine war, I think any panel would see that in a different light.
“I can’t believe that was classed as a day-to-day occurrence in the last hearing. The war in Ukraine is far from that.
“I think the Premier League will be anxious to get a cap on both the Everton and Forest cases well before the end of the season.
“I don’t think they’re going to go too hard on Everton this time round.”
In other news, Everton line up Jarrad Branthwaite replacement after source’s new reveal.
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