EXCLUSIVE: Sky Sports PULLED an interview with Mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham calling for the Premier League to drop their 10-point penalty against Everton… as the Toffees fan calls the move ‘deeply troubling’
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- Everton fan Burnham called it ‘disturbing’ after criticizing the club’s points deduction
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Sky Sport caught up with an interview with Andy Burnham in which he called on the Premier League to drop the 10-point penalty against Everton.
In a move he describes as ‘deeply disturbing’ the broadcaster spoke to the Mayor of Greater Manchester and Gwladys Street season ticket holder on Sunday ahead of the Toffees’ 0-3 defeat to Manchester United at Goodison Park – but the footage were not shown.
Former cabinet minister Burnham, who was an outspoken critic of the league’s controversial decision to deduct 10 points from the struggling Merseyside club over financial rules breaches, now wants to know why.
“I don’t know why it wasn’t broadcast and I would really like an explanation,” he told Mail Sport. ‘As a former minister, I do not expect third parties to decide what I can and cannot say.’
On Saturday, Sky Sports did not show footage of a plane flying over the Etihad Stadium during the televised match between Manchester City and Liverpool, which was paid for by angry Everton fans. There was a banner hanging with the message ‘Premier League = corrupt’.
Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham – an Everton fan – was given an interview by Sky Sports in which he called on the Premier League to drop the Toffees’ points deduction
Everton were given the hammer blow of a 10-point deduction for breaching financial rules
A number of Sky reporters covering managers’ press conferences on Friday were told not to ask about Everton, although the issue was raised with Sean Dyche, Mauricio Pochettino and David Moyes.
Those covering Sunday’s match at seething Goodison Park for Sky were also reminded of their ‘editorial responsibilities’, according to sources, before Burnham’s interview for Sky Sports News was axed.
Sky insiders claim the move was made following the death of Terry Venables and the subsequent shift in editorial direction.
They also say they did not turn down the volume on the numerous, noisy and vigorous anti-Premier League chants from Everton fans throughout the match as they were not loud enough to merit a change in output.
A number of Sky reporters covering managers’ press conferences on Friday were told not to ask about Everton – and were reminded of their ‘editorial responsibilities’
But Burnham is not impressed. “There seems to be a broader picture here, with Evertonians’ views on the match also being silenced,” he added. ‘I find this all very disturbing. They denied us our points. It can’t be right to deny Evertonians our vote too, can it?’
Burnham has accused the Premier League of abuse of process and says the penalty – which plunged Sean Dyche’s side into the relegation zone – should be annulled.
He was written to the Premier League chairman and the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, accusing the competition of regulatory malpractice for attempting to introduce a sanctions policy specific to Everton’s case midway through the investigation .
Burnham said it was ‘deeply disturbing’ that Everton’s voices were ‘silenced’
Burnham, who did appear on Sophy Ridge’s Sky News show on Monday, has also claimed they are using Everton as a ‘pawn’ in a bid to prevent the introduction of an independent regulator into football.
During Sunday’s match, around 38,000 pink cards, featuring the Premier League logo and the word ‘corrupt’, were handed out and held up by Everton supporters throughout the match.
The situation comes at what could be seen as a delicate time for broadcasters. In October, the Premier League issued tenders for British rights from 2026. The deadline for bids is this Friday, with an announcement on successful bids expected before the end of the year.
A Sky Sports spokesperson said: ‘Sky Sports has covered this news story extensively across our TV and digital channels, as always taking a fair and balanced approach to our reporting.’
