The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Thursday 19th October) Everton’s disciplinary hearing begins
Everton’s disciplinary hearing begins
Everton’s disciplinary hearing into financial fair play misdemeanors begun in secret at Premier League headquarters yesterday. They were charged by the Premier League back in March, with breaching Financial Fair Play regulations, after posting losses of almost £372million, over the three year FFP cycle.
Strict regulations state that top flight clubs must keep within the financial permeameters of the FA, and must not post losses of any more than £105m over three consecutive seasons. Everton have more than tripled that amount, but firmly lay the blame with Covid. The hearing is expected to last a week, with a decision likely to be made sometime next month.
It seems that the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea have been getting away with similar rule breaking for years, without serious consequences. Perhaps clubs should be given a choice; points deductions or a massive fine dependant on the size of club. If Manchester City were fined £200m, at least that money could be put to good use!
You'll recall in 2007, when Leeds were challenging Lord Mawhinney's decision to deduct them a further 15 points (having already been deducted 10); Chairmen from the other 71 league clubs (back then) voted on whether the additional punishment should stand. Unsurprisingly three quarters of the clubs backed the Football League Chairman, and Leeds went on to narrowly avoid promotion.
Leeds waiting to stick the knife in
Two weeks ago, Burnley, Leeds and Leicester wrote a joint letter to 777 Partners (the group that are in the process of buying Everton football club) informing them of their intentions to sue Everton football club for £300m, if they are found guilty of FFP rule breaking.
The trio are said to be unhappy Everton’s charges were not dealt with much sooner, as a points deduction may have changed the outcomes of recent relegation battles.
During the Summer, Everton became fixated on Leeds Utd, trying underhand tactics to entice players away from Elland Road, inadvertently causing Wilfred Gnonto to go on temporary strike. Leeds fans will no doubt enjoy to see them squirm though their case is not as strong as the other two as they would have still have been relegated had Everton finished below them.
Have Leeds missed Gnonto
Since arriving at Elland Road thirteen months ago Wilfred Gnonto has created quite a stir. The 19yo was originally bought in to save face, after Leeds missed out on Cody Gakpo and Bamba Dieng on transfer deadline day last year.
Although the plucky Italian was always on Leeds' wanted list, the arrangement they had with Zurich was that he would arrive in January, but having missed out on other signings, persuaded the Swiss outfit to bring the deal forward.
It proved a blessing in disguise, and within a fortnight of arriving, Gnonto was knocking on the door of the first team. Within a month, he was one of the first players on the team sheet. His form fell away in the second half of the season after returning from International duty with Italy with an ankle injury, and has been unable to replicate his previous form since.
He broke his ankle at Hull a month ago tomorrow, which required minor surgery to correct, but has returned to training this week. Although they have lost Sinisterra and Harrison, Leeds still have plenty of options wide left.
Jaidon Anthony and Dan James have provided plenty of problems for opposition clubs during Gnonto's absence posing the question whether Gnonto has been missed? Would a £30m offer in January be too good to turn down or do Leeds have one of the best young talents in the Country?