Jamie Carragher brands Everton’s 10-point deduction ‘excessive’, claiming Toffees ‘will feel they’re being used until other clubs are sanctioned’ for breaking financial rules

Jamie Carragher believes Everton’s 10-point deduction is excessive and exposes the Premier League to accusations of bias unless penalties are handed out to other clubs.

The Merseyside outfit were handed a heavy penalty on Friday for breaching the league’s profit and sustainability rules, following their staggering financial losses of almost £372 million over three years.

Everton were referred to an independent commission in March for alleged violations related to the 2021-2022 season. A hearing took place last month where the Premier League pushed for a significant points deduction to set a precedent.

Carragher has called the sanctions ‘excessive’ and drew comparisons to the league’s response when six of the top clubs announced their intention to form a breakaway league.

“The 10-point deduction for Everton is excessive and not appropriate given that they have been working with the Premier League on this over the years,” he wrote on social media platform X.

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‘Would it have been better to be evasive and try to drag it out like other clubs?

‘No doubt relegated clubs will have to put a lot of pressure on the Premier League to deal with Everton, but when you consider that six clubs tried to leave the Premier League and there was no sanction at all, it doesn’t feel right.

‘Until other clubs are sanctioned, Everton will feel they are being used to show there is no need for an independent regulator, and they are right.’

Carragher’s comments referred to when Man City, Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham threatened to join the European Super League in 2021.

The six clubs who signed up for the breakout – before later pulling out – agreed to pay a combined total of £22 million in settlement with the Premier League.

Everton’s loss is more than £250 million above what Premier League guidelines allow clubs to lose over a rolling three-year period.

A statement from the Premier League on Friday said: ‘An independent committee has imposed an immediate 10-point deduction on Everton FC for breaching the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSRs).

‘The Premier League filed a complaint against the club and referred the matter to an independent committee earlier this year.

‘During the proceedings, the club admitted breaching the PSRs for the period ending the 2021-2022 season, but the extent of the breach remained in dispute.

Following a five-day hearing last month, the committee found that Everton FC’s PSR calculation for the relevant period resulted in a loss of £124.5 million as claimed by the Premier League, exceeding the £105 million threshold set allowed under the PSRs.

‘The committee concluded that a sporting sanction in the form of a deduction of 10 points should be imposed. This sanction has immediate effect.’

Everton will appeal the verdict in the strongest possible way. They strongly deny that they breached the PSR and that their financial losses were due to the construction of a new stadium at Bramley Moore Dock and whether interest payments on that development were allowable.

Meanwhile, Burnley, Leeds and Leicester have confirmed their intention to sue Everton for a total sum of £300 million.

The aggrieved trio are said to have agreed to make good on their previous threats after Sean Dyche’s side narrowly escaped relegation on the final day of the season by just two points.

The deduction sees the Toffees drop to 19th place, just ahead of Burnley, who are level on four points.