Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham has questioned why the Premier League will not be publicly releasing evidence from Everton’s points-deduction appeal hearing.
The independent panel is due to share its verdict on November’s 10-point sanction this month with the process concluding a week ago. However, Premier League chief Richard Masters says key financial details about the case will not be disclosed. Appearing before the Government’s Department Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) committee in January, he was asked for minutes of the board meeting in which it was decided that the Toffees would be handed an unprecedented 10-point deduction.
The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, says recent comments from Premier League chief Richard Masters make the case for an independent regulator stronger
Responding in a letter, Masters said: “As the committee will appreciate, being a private business, it is not our practice to provide or publish minutes of Premier League Board Meetings. Nor are we able to publish submissions the Premier League Board or executive make as part of confidential legal proceedings.”
Defending the Premier League’s heavy points sanction, Masters added: “At all times during this process, the Premier League has sought to treat the club fairly and with respect. Of course, as the competition organiser and administrator, it is also our role to ensure fairness for clubs that have adhered to the rules. That means enforcing our rulebook consistently and impartially.”
Burnham, an Everton fan, says he is puzzled by the Premier League’s stance not to release evidence and says it only gives fuel to the idea that an independent regulator should be established. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the 54-year-old questioned why the Premier League is keeping its cards close to its chest, writing: “The @premierleague could not have made a better case for a statutory regulator for football if they had tried. What are they trying to hide?”
