Everton fans planning protest over points deduction

Everton fans are to march on the Premier League headquarters in protest at the club's 10-point punishment for breaching financial regulations.

The club were handed the sanction by an independent commission last week after they exceeded losses permitted under the league's profitability and sustainability rules by £19.5million in the three seasons ending in 2021-22.

Rob Fisher, who runs the Toffees in London Supporters' Club and is an Everton fan forum member, is mobilising supporters in the capital to take their protest to the administrative centre of top-flight football on Friday evening.

"We feel it is a decision which has been made in an office and not on a football pitch and the headquarters is where we feel most of the anger is levied at," Fisher told the PA news agency.

"Within the general workings of the Premier League there doesn't see to be any guidance or framework around it. Where has this decision come from?

"The news coming out that the Premier League wanted a 12-point deduction as the process was happening was very worrying considering the result.

"We just want answers. We know we are guilty so we know there is going to be a punishment so it is just finding out if this is going to be the way for everyone."

Fisher believes he has raised a "good-sized" crowd for the protest and he has also received support from outside the Everton fanbase.

"I know it's an Everton issue but a lot of people in the Premier League are very worried at what they are hearing and seeing in the last week," he added.

"I've had Arsenal, Aston Villa, West Ham fans contact me. Even Liverpool fans are pretty much on our side, which is very strange."