Kieran Maguire has strongly criticized the Premier League for its handling of the Everton points deduction controversy. During a recent episode of The Price of Football podcast, Maguire, an expert in football finance, expressed his disapproval of the league’s lack of guidelines for punishing clubs for financial breaches. He argued that the original 10-point deduction imposed on Everton was too harsh, especially considering it amounted to about 20% of the average points earned by Premier League clubs in a season.
Maguire also pointed out the lack of clear regulations from the Premier League, suggesting that the clubs themselves may have influenced this oversight. He noted that the second commission looked to the EFL for guidance and ultimately reduced Everton’s penalty to six points, emphasizing the need for consistent and fair guidelines in these situations.
While acknowledging Everton’s wrongdoing, Maguire questioned the justification for the 10-point deduction and urged the Premier League to establish solid guidelines before taking action against other clubs for similar offenses. He emphasized the importance of clarity and fairness in such cases, especially to avoid unnecessary hardship and speculation for fans who are eagerly awaiting appeal decisions. He concluded by stressing the need for the Premier League to handle future cases correctly, ensuring that all clubs are treated fairly and transparently.
