The Everton Fan Advisory Board (FAB) has issued a compelling call for action, urging the Premier League to halt all ongoing hearings related to breaches of Profit & Sustainability Rules (PSR).
The FAB contends that the absence of transparent, consistent, and established sanctions guidelines undermines the integrity of the process. Additionally, they advocate for parliamentary intervention to empower the new independent regulator with comprehensive oversight and authority over profit and sustainability rules.
In a comprehensive Fan Impact Statement submitted to Everton and the Premier League ahead of the club’s second commission hearing, the FAB articulates the profound repercussions of potential further charges on supporters, the community, staff, and the broader football fraternity.
The statement highlights the Premier League’s purported failure to establish and agree upon common sanctions guidelines, citing inconsistency and contradictory practices in referring certain clubs to commissions while sparing others.
The recent PSR case involving Nottingham Forest, which culminated in a four-point deduction for breaching allowable losses by £34.5 million, juxtaposed with Everton’s initial ten-point deduction (later reduced to six on appeal) for exceeding losses by £19.5 million, underscores the disparity and perceived arbitrariness in sanctioning.
The FAB raises concerns regarding the imposition of secondary sanctions for a period during which supporters and Everton have already been penalized. Dave Kelly, Chair of the FAB, expressed dismay over the apparent ad hoc approach of the Premier League, stating, “It looks like the Premier League is literally making this up as they go along.” He further emphasized the bewildering inconsistency across three separate hearings, overseen by different commissions, yielding disparate outcomes.
“Whilst we’ve always been clear that our club has had a case to answer, we’re now in the bizarre situation where some clubs, but not all, have been brought before a commission still unclear about what the rules of the game are when it comes to sanctions, with the groups of commissioners themselves having no clear guidelines to work by. We’ve now had three hearings, overseen by three different commissions, applying three different approaches and reaching three different conclusions.
“In the last week, we’ve also seen the Premier League confirm that it will be looking to change the PSR rules as early as this summer. The rhetoric we hear today is that football is nothing without fans. But how does this chaotic approach to regulation inspire confidence for football supporters, especially when even the Premier League recognises its own policies aren’t fit for purpose?
“This has an impact on real people – supporters, players and club employees. We note that legislation has now been introduced to bring in an independent regulator. But it doesn’t go far enough.
“The Premier League has proven that it has failed to bring proper, fair and transparent oversight of our game. That’s why we’ll be calling for football supporters everywhere to ensure that this legislation equips the regulator with full powers and oversight over profit and sustainability.”
Amidst mounting scrutiny, the Premier League’s recent acknowledgment of the need to revise PSR rules underscores systemic shortcomings. Kelly underscores the imperative for reform, calling for enhanced regulatory oversight to restore trust and transparency in football governance.
While legislative efforts to introduce an independent regulator are commendable, the FAB insists that such measures must be reinforced with robust enforcement mechanisms to ensure fair and equitable oversight of profit and sustainability regulations.
The FAB’s impassioned plea resonates with football supporters nationwide, echoing the sentiment that meaningful reform is imperative to safeguard the integrity and credibility of the sport.
As stakeholders unite in advocating for substantive change, the onus lies on regulatory bodies to heed the calls for accountability and transparency, thereby reaffirming football’s status as a sport governed by fairness and integrity.