Andy Burnham Exclusive! - FFP breaches, appeals, Premier League transparency and more.

"Affects all football supporters as Forest fans have found out". What? Forest arent "all football fans".
The Premier League are not answerable to a minor politician ffs. The decision has been agreed by an independent KC. Any challenge to that should be treated as frivolous.

Explain how it is unfair?

Excellent podcast. In terms of Andy's request for all Evertonians to write to their MP, I haven't seen a template although there may well be some out there. So I wrote a letter as suggested to Angela Eagle. If anyone thinks it's ok to use and wants to do so feel free. The more the better. I've pasted it below so it can be copied and customised to your own name, MP, constituency, etc.

Dame Angela Eagle MP
Sherlock House
6 Manor Road
Liscard
Wallasey
Wirral
CH45 4JB

25th January 2024

Dear Dame Angela

My name is YOUR NAME and I am writing to you today as a constituent of YOUR CONSTITUENCY regarding a matter of concern to me and I’m sure many others across WHERE YOU LIVE, the wider Merseyside region and beyond.

You will be familiar with the issues surrounding the recent sporting penalty inflicted on Everton Football Club and its supporters by the Premier League authorities following a breach of their Profit and Sustainability Rules (“PSR’s”). The 10-point sanction is unprecedented and wholly disproportionate to what is considered by most observers to be a technical breach. The impact of such a severe sanction of itself has the potential for serious ongoing financial consequences, not just for the club but for the wider local economy. Furthermore, the Premier League’s recently publicised follow-up charges appear to expose the club to the risk of “double jeopardy”, given that some of these charges of overspend relate to the same periods for which the club has already been found to be in breach and prior to the appeals process even commencing.

A number of your colleagues including Andy Burnham, Steve Rotherham and Ian Byrne MP, have already given voice to their concerns regarding the lack of a transparent process adopted by the Premier League. They have been joined by many others including Mark Carney, Dame Sue Owen and Sir Brendan Barber who have jointly raised their concerns directly with the Premier League.

The Premier League has actively sought to dissuade government and politicians generally of the need for independent regulatory oversight of its affairs and its’ high-profile action against Everton Football Club is seen by many as a flawed attempt to demonstrate its’ ability to self-regulate. Premier League CEO Richard Masters’ appearance to give evidence at the Parliamentary Culture, Media and Sport committee meeting on 16th January only added to concerns. In what was widely seen as an attempt to mislead the Committee, he sought to convince them that there is an “open regime” in relation to the process whilst previously refusing to respond to questions seeking to establish the ‘policy’ or ‘formula’ used which led to the sanction imposed or when this formula was put in place. It is clear from the report of the Independent Commission’s findings that there was no PSR’s sanctions policy/formula in place when proceedings were initiated against Everton Football Club. It was only as recently as 10th August last year that the Premier League Board adopted a sanctions policy/formula which the CEO then presented to the Commission mid process. Such a situation would fail any scrutiny regarding a fair and proper process in any other arena. His claim of an open policy is inaccurate at best.

Given that the Football Governance Bill is soon to arrive before Parliament, can I ask that as part of that debate:

you call on The Culture, Media and Sport Committee to require the Premier League to publish the minutes of its Board Meeting in early August 2023

you call on The Culture, Media and Sport Committee to require the Premier League to publish the formula for its sanctions regime which it sent to the ‘Independent’ Commission who in turn must have based the sanction imposed against Everton Football Club on some criteria or other.

you seek clarity regarding the status of that formula and whether it will be applied again and whether it will be submitted to the new commission that will hear the case against Everton Football Club in respect of the latest charges.

Much of the information related to this matter is in the public domain but if I can be of any assistance with further information or clarification, please do let me know.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely

Well done andy. Im convinced we will win appeal

(Q) How is it possible that Force Majeure was so easily dismissed in the first hearing?

The International Chamber of Commerce has published. The long form clause of the ICC’s draft force majeure clause is quite broad, providing for events ranging from WAR, invasion, revolutions and riots to acts of authorities such as currency restrictions, seizure of works, nationalization, etc.
In order to address this uncertainty, the Government of India released certain executive directives/notifications[5] over the course of the pandemic with respect to the consideration of the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns as force majeure events in commercial contracts (particularly in connection with public-private partnership contracts).

In weighing the same against the facts and circumstances of individual cases, Indian courts have laid emphasis on the fact that for valid INVOCATION of the force majeure clause, the impossibility of performance of contractual obligations, beyond the scope of reasonable and practical alternate means, must be demonstrated.
the action of invoking something or someone for assistance or as an authority the invocation of new disciplines and methodologies"

(?) Were Everton, set up by the PL? YES IMHO EFC most likely included the 19M overspend in the moving build costs of the new stadium, while as reported working closely with the PL. the pl most likely said the 19M overspend is over the amount we will allow in the build costs and asked EFC to put the figure in another colum on their accounts spreadsheet.
The PL rubbed thier hands together and said here's our scapegoat to stave off the governments independent board and take our livelyhoods.

Youd think Andy would get be able to obtain and have a greater understanding than the average evertonian on twitter. Disappointing listening, its not fair we cant break the rules mentality.

Its not double jeopardy ffs, its two different 3 year periods, true they overlap but they arent the same. No coherent arguments here

Excellent interview, I have sent my email to my MP and like Andy Burnham would encourage all Everton fans to do the same. We can't sit back and leave it to the Andy Burnam's of this world. Do your bit and tell your friends and family to do the same. I'm banging the drum for Everton FC because I don't want to see them in the Championship next season.

I think it was a driver to the charge but the way the PL tried to submit a sanctions policy/formula retrospectively for the commission to consider highlights that they knew the PSR rules were majorly flawed and deficient to make them toothless. It is also clear that the commission whilst quite rightly rejecting the policy should have also said the rules are defective without that policy. The actual sanction also highlighted that the commission had been unduly influenced by the suggested approach by the PL and should be struck out. It’s an absolute farce!

In relation to the West Ham case, one of the commission members was a West Ham senior employee at the time of their hearing, so, IMO, that makes the ruling even more bizzare given the impact on the Everton fan base rather than the Club owners.

Whoever you support Everton's problems are the problems of the other 80+ teams in English football. There is no pyramid when nobody can ever be given equality to the PL chosen 6. All teams are just names to fulfill a fixture list to facilitate the chosen 6. No matter how cut throat football teams are they should ALL support Everton against the clear corruption of The PL who are basically the puppets being controlled by SKY TV. The PL cannot be sustainable, the same teams being paid far more money to buy all the best players more than all other teams, so they can make the PL bosses like corrupt Mr masters richer, will eventually destroy top level football.
A huge problem is the cowardly other 14 teams who vote and can change things. Clubs like Bournemouth, Fulham, Brentford etc etc only vote in favour of the PL is because they get much more money than the bigger clubs that play in the championship.
Everyone should cancel sky TV . What's the point of the PL unless you are the chosen 6. .. watching premier League football. Is now horrible and boring to watch.. ever game played mostly by cheaters, officiated by clowns then re-refereed by faceless people who's own opinions can not only influence games but can actually ENSURE CORRECT SCORES! leading it wide open to corruption and organised gambling.
EFL is miles better to watch than EPL. The premier League is a vile product

Love Andy Burnham, but cant say you watched Latchford & Royle and have hair like that, knock the hair dye off mate😂😂😂

After listening to this podcast it is absolutely clear that the commission must first decide if the rules are fit for purpose, support the intention of preventing clubs at risk going bust and are watertight which they obviously aren’t. Since 2013 the rules, that are not underpinned with the necessary policies as Andy said,have not been reviewed to incorporate case law about the impact on fans, inflation rates which would probably double the £105 million over 3 years limit, and most importantly have a proper tariff of sanctions policy. Any breaches should be therefore dismissed and the PL ordered to start afresh, go back to the drawing board and present a proper working rules and policy for the 20 member clubs to consider and vote upon. If the PL had any sense they would adopt this approach as it gets them off the hook with other more serious breaches by Man City, Chelsea etc and prevent this farce spiralling more out of control. I hope Everton and the PL will adopt this approach and stop the mental health consequences this shit storm places on decent honest fans like me. COYB

Brilliant podcast. Not heard Andy speak before and I am thoroughly impressed by the man. Refreshing to hear a senior politician speak thoughtfully and honestly on what he believes in.

I’m a new subscriber and long time Toffee. Loved this conversation. It was a bit hard to hear you with the mic you are using but I could hear your guest perfectly.

Is there a template we can use to contact our MP's about the 3 points Andy mentioned

Brilliant interview by Gary & ATP podcast, & some great points made by Andy. Not being a politician, I completely missed. Just what we need!!Glad he’s a blue & fighting our corner. 💙

I can excuse Luton, Burnley and Sheffield United fans, but I am disappointed by the lack of obvious support from other fans and the media.
We need to know what the formula/policy was. We need to know what is “open” about the policy. It feels to me that Premier league are avoiding responsibility by calling the decision making panel independent.
I also feel like there is a logical disconnect from the Portsmouth story which is the supposed rationale behind the rules and how the rules are being used. It wasn’t reckless spending that got Portsmouth into trouble. Portsmouth got into trouble when the financial taps were turned off. It seems to me deducting 10 points is more likely to initiate a Portsmouth situation than a less aggressive approach which could ramp up for repeat offences.

Top man Andy

This was brilliant both excellent, We are lucky you have people like Andy fighting our corner and the podcast. Can we please not forget that not long ago we had a SUPER LEAGUE which was about to destroy the hole of the football pyramid and was only dealt with by a measly fine. NOT TO PUNISH THE FANS.

I don't know why Andy doesn't run to become next PM. It feels wrong to trust an MP implicitly but this man proves that very quality for me. Not just in our fight for justice and reason but I believe he's a genuine human being trying to find anyway he can to improve life for us all, not just the toffees. As for the host, respect my friend, what a seminal interview that was.

Superb interview, well done 👏👏👏👏👏

Great podcast and interview 👌 Andy Burnham would be a fantastic addition to the Everton board if the opportunity ever became available.

Brilliant guy's excellent video COYB ⚽️

Cheers Andy and the ATPP blues UTFT🦸🏻‍♂️💎💙

Enjoyed that. Thanks

If EFC had told the PL to go and do something. We would have got the 12 points max penalty and still have Richarlison, Tom Cannon, Alex Iwobi sold on the cheap and others that were sold just to meet the regulations. We could have spent like Chelsea and would not have had a threadbare squad. All the cooperation just to avoid two points.

Excellent

Cracking video lads. I honestly think for the prem to actually save face , there will not be another deduction and probably just a fine or they face the great chance of looking not fit for purpose when it unravels. Time will tell

PL confirmed the clubs (including Everton) voted against set guidelines and set penalties for breaches, on that basis I’d be surprised if we get anything back from the appeal. We admitted to breaking the rules, we signed up for a rolling 3 years (which of course includes 2 years you’ve already been judged against)- I think we’re fucked in a nutshell.

Not sure about this regulatory process. I can’t see how those people can help. They can’t run the country properly or without their davos buddies. The problem is the Prem is willing to do away with us and not even try to hide the fact or corruption.

Andy , it’s a two tier league , Richard masters , more or less admitted it and man city’s charges are totally different to evertons??? Whatever that means , but refused to answer it really he sidestepped that one man city’s charges will be kicked into the long grass , guaranteed.

Great podcast . Thank you Andy Burnham

Andy, have you argued so strongly on FFP for the club and fans of Manchester City? You know, being Mayor of Greater Manchester

Hi Gary this video and podcast as been brilliant Andy as spoken whe the knowledge as well as yourself . Andy should be are next prime minister up the toffees

What are they so scared of at the premier league, it all smells very very bad.

The only corruption in the premier league is city with 115 charges winning the league every year

Neverton trying to be relevent ! You cheated and admitted to cheating so stop bitchin like a bitch.....take your punishment and work your way back up the divisions

Great work guys from an Aston Villa Fan keep up the fight .

Had to name drop that scumbag Alister Campbell didnt he.

Brilliant podcast, keep the fight going UTFT

Real quality sports lawyers will destroy little dicky masters!

Great interview.
UTFT 💙

Great to have Andy onboard against the corrupt bastards 💙

This smacks of lets show the independent regulator our muscles…..so quick lads this is the last chance to nail anyone before the rule changes in August,.. when all charges against any other club after that will be dropped, and only a fine of their choice administered instead of points deduction, they think we are all daft…..breathe easy city and chelsea your off the hook… corruption at its finest

I keep saying it, offer andy Burnham CEO job at Everton.. we need a voice at the top to ruffle feathers in the establishment, imo .. great show as usual lads UTFT

The Burnham interview as a minimum should've made Sky Sports News if not the main Sky News. Its beyond the realms of logic why an interview would be dropped after they've specifically sought him out - there's "something rotten in the state of Denmark" as the quote goes. 🤔

Now the appeal board don't have to give a verdict until 5 days after the season is finished, so who do you think they will relegate us or a team who has not broken the rules?

Hi Andy my family are Reds but my son and me are Evertonians I have been a Blue for 55 years and my Grandad was a Blue as well COYB 💙💙💙