Everton is guilty as charged, but is this worse than Arsenal’s desire to enter the Premier League?

Everton – ‘The People’s Club’ – has a special place in my heart.

This is a big club. It was one of the founding members of the Football League, has the second longest continuous presence in the top division, is a nine-time League winner, and has won the FA Cup five times.

However, the fact that they were instantly docked 10 points for violating financial rules is a watershed event in English football.

The Toffees will file an appeal, spending thousands of pounds on the best attorneys in the country to argue that the sentence is excessive, claiming that ‘both the harshness and severity of the sanction imposed by the commission are neither a fair nor a reasonable representation of the evidence given.’

Nonetheless, the Premier League has finally demonstrated the courage to take their own regulations seriously. The notion is that they were always happy to issue fines because they knew the sums were just spare change that billionaire owners could find down the back of their settee.

Taking away points, on the other hand, appeared to be self-sabotage. The Premier League is one of England’s most recognizable brands. It’s difficult to pitch it as the finest in the world if teams are punished for cheating.

This tells not only the blue half of Merseyside, but the rest of the country, that there are consequences for breaking the rules of the sport.

While some may now be sweating, hopefully it will serve as a deterrent to other chairmen and women.

Man City comes to mind, however to be fair to the Champions, they have always maintained their innocence and claim that it will be proven.

Everton’s statement is more stranger. but are not denying their wrongdoing, but only contend that they were only over the profit and sustainability criteria by 19.5 million, had been honest about the oversight, had been upfront and thought the sentence is ‘excessive’.

Let me translate…. They believed that if they broke the rules knowingly, the penalty would be a fee and that the Governing Body would never consider penalizing them with points deductions.

‘The club will also monitor with great interest the decisions made in any other cases concerning the Premier League’s profit and sustainability guidelines,’ says Goodison.

So, just because others have done wrong, it’s okay for you to do the same? Is it because you believe your peers are doing the same thing that you are the victim? Don’t be concerned about what others are doing; instead, examine yourself in the mirror and fix how you are conducting your business. So horrible off the field that it’s now affecting the field.

Their statements suggest otherwise, but Everton haven’t had a bad run here.

You are permitted to be 105 million in the red in terms of profitability! That’s a lot of money and a lot of potential.

Now is this as bad as the ‘Big Six’ trying to break away and start their own Super League? Would that have been more costly to the whole pyramid of England’s footballing pyramid?

Some Gooners might want to cover their ears, have Everton been treated more harshly than when we broke the rules?

Of course, I can write that because I don’t pretend there’s an agenda against us.

Some readers will just casually ignore this. It’s easier to make an example out of Everton then an Arsenal. Reasons you want to keep the Big 6 happy.

Sources say, there was pressure from other clubs to throw the book at Everton. Less so on the Big Six because of that lucrative TV contact the Big 6 are responsible for yet share with the rest.

But just because the Big 6 got a slap on the wrist doesn’t mean others may act however they want.

If you do not satisfy the League’s criteria, you subject yourself up to sanctions.

Everton are now 19th in the table, although they are only three points away from safety. With 26 games remaining, it’s not a calamity for Sean Dyche, who knows there are three worse sides than his.

Everton should be alright.

In the long run, I hope it sets a precedent.