Everyone has been rushing to weigh in on the breaking Everton news.
After all, it saw mass intrigue as a conclusion arrived for a saga the likes of which the Premier League had never seen before.
It marked the first real enforcement of PSR, and a harsh one at that. But, the Toffees have actually come out the other side in a relatively strong position, likely owed to the miraculous work of Sean Dyche throughout such turmoil.
And now, after making themselves look foolish by acting so harshly and recklessly, the league is coming under increased criticism.
Jeff Stelling and Ally McCoist piled on earlier this morning.
What Jeff Stelling and Ally McCoist said about Everton’s ruling
Speaking live on talkSPORT (27/02, 6:25 am), the two pundits were left disappointed with the manner in which the Premier League, supposed to be the all-knowing entity to whom these powerhouse clubs answer, had acted.
After all, it has severely diminished their power, with Everton proving how even a club with seemingly no prospects and no money could go toe to toe with the institution.
Stelling would start off the rant, first noting: ‘They’ve made such a hash of it so far, haven’t they? You know, by the fact that they’ve imposed such a humongous punishment really. And they’ve just straight jacketed themselves haven’t they from now on?
‘Even six points, if Forest are found guilty, they must know that the minimum they’re getting is six points!’
Fellow pundit Shebahn Aherne then questioned whether it was the right number, before the former Sky Sports Soccer Saturday host claimed: ‘I don’t know, I honestly don’t know.
‘It sounds a bit draconian but it’s now the standard that they’ve set for an appeal is six points. It does sound a bit draconian to me, but I’m not absolutely au fait with all the particular charges and whether the punishment fits the crime.’
McCoist then weighed in: ‘That’s the thing, nobody knows. It’s not just affecting, you mention the fans, it’s affecting everybody. Luton and Bournemouth and all these teams, it’s not right the way it’s been handled.’
Stelling agreed: ‘Well, Everton say they’re satisfied with the verdict, well they would be now wouldn’t they, they’ve got four points back. But they wouldn’t be so satisfied if they get another six points deducted come the end of the season. It’s just a mess!’
The Premier League have never looked so weak
It’s ironic that, in an effort to showcase their strength and ability to govern as the threat of the government’s independent regulator loomed, the Premier League have never looked so weak.
Having desperately sought to throw the book at Everton, the calm and killer demeanour exhibited by the Toffees was enough to see them reduce the sanction rather significantly whilst also setting a precedent for their second upcoming trial.
A punishment was expected when they admitted guilt for their financial transgressions, and in proving the initial sanction was as gross and unjust as the bulk of the footballing world thought, they too have proven how this was never really about sustainability.
What this titanic institution sought to do was push around an already struggling club as they sought to ward off any integrations that would harm their never-ending profit stream.
A wholly selfish tactic which saw them prioritise this over the match-going fan, the bridges burned with the Evertonians will likely never be repaired.
After all, this is a fanbase with long memories and a history of holding grudges, with their own league still public enemy number one despite this slight remuneration.
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