The Everton Fan Advisory Board has issued an Impact Statement ahead of the club’s second Independent Commission hearing demanding suspension of the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules, hearings and sanctions.
The FAB is demanding that the Premier League suspend all PSR commission hearings given, it claims, a “lack of any transparent process or framework addressing PSR breaches and subsequent sanctions in a consistent and fair manner” and “application of a potential second sanction covering a time period for which supporters and the club have already been penalised”.
It also calls on Parliament to “ensure the new Independent Regulator has full oversight and powers” on PSR. “It looks like the Premier League is literally making this up as they go along,” says Dave Kelly, chair of the FAB.
“Whilst we’ve always been clear our club has had a case to answer, we’re now in the bizarre situation where some clubs, but not all, have been brought before a commission still unclear about what the rules of the game are when it comes to sanctions, with the groups of commissioners themselves having no clear guidelines to work by.
“We’ve now had 3 hearings, overseen by 3 different commissions, applying 3 different approaches, and reaching 3 different conclusions. In the last week, we’ve also seen the Premier League confirm that it will be looking to change the PSR rules as early as this summer.
“The rhetoric we hear today is that football is nothing without fans. But how does this chaotic approach to regulation inspire confidence for supporters, especially when even the Premier League recognises its own policies aren’t fit for purpose?
“This has an impact on real people – supporters, players and club employees. We note that legislation has now been introduced to bring in an independent regulator. But it doesn’t go far enough.
“The Premier League has proven that it has failed to bring proper, fair and transparent oversight of our game. That’s why we’ll be calling for football supporters everywhere to ensure that this legislation equips the regulator with full powers and oversight over profit and sustainability.”
Read the full Impact Statement at the FAB website