Everton’s war with the Premier League has been one of the most engrossing sagas of this campaign thus far, but one which the division itself would have wanted to be kept out of the limelight.
After all, it has arguably made them look weaker than ever, as an institution unable to govern its clubs properly and with absolute power.
This appeal, of which its decision is yet to be communicated, could put the final nail in the coffin for their period of prosperity, free from outside government regulation.
After all, that is what this whole thing is about, and their efforts to hide that have been minimal.
But, this elongated delay has left many speculating positive or negative connotations of such a painstaking wait, with Jamie O’Hara fuming regardless.
What Jamie O’Hara said about Everton
Well, speaking live on talkSPORT (17 February, 18:42 pm), the former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder lambasted the Premier League for this points deduction debacle.
He claimed: ‘I’m not having this points deduction stuff in the middle of a season. You just don’t know what you’re dealing with.
‘In the games as well, and when other teams are playing, you’re wondering do we need to go for a winner, is a point a good point? You don’t know. You’re thinking another team might get a points deduction.
‘I have to say, I can’t believe we’re dealing with this during a season. I get it, if you’ve broken the rules and a points deduction comes at the start of the season, you start on a -5 or -8 or -10, fine, deal with it.
‘But to be thinking about ‘How many points do we need to get because we might get five taken off us, while the season is going on? It’s a joke. This is the Premier League we’re talking about here, and it’s like amateur hour.’
The Premier League are making themselves look foolish
There is arguably nothing more embarrassing than setting a date only to flout it, again.
And for the Premier League with regard to Everton, that has now been the case on a number of occasions.
First, the proposed takeover by 777 Partners was one expected to be completed not too long after Richard Masters came under questioning last month.
He claimed that a result was dependant on some key information being handed over, and with reports having since suggested that has occurred, the continued wait makes little sense.
However, Evertonians should likely be in no rush to get the Miami-based firm in power, given their chequered history and the likelihood of them being even worse than Farhad Moshiri.
But, regarding their appeal, a result needs to be made as soon as possible.
It has left both Everton and many other clubs in and around the relegation zone, languishing in a limbo state until their fate is decided.
Sean Dyche does not know whether his side will have to fight for their lives or not, and the likes of Luton Town and Crystal Palace are unaware of the scale of their struggles too.
Whether it is positive or negative, the Premier League have to publish their outcome as soon as possible. It has, as O’Hara notes, become a joke now.
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