Gary Neville launches scathing attack on Premier League - 'the trust is gone'
Gary Neville has claimed "the greed and selfishness is out of control" among Premier League clubs, accusing those in the competition of acting out of self-interest.
The last few years have seen Super League plans fall flat and debate rage in relation to related party transactions. More recently, Everton have been handed a 10-point deduction - a record for a Premier League club - in relation to profit and sustainability rules.
Nevile's former club United are due to face Everton on Sunday, with the Merseyside club now sitting in the relegation zone. And, in assessing the state of play in a number of areas, the 48-year-old called for an independent regulator as the "only chance" to deal with the current situation.
"The trust and faith is gone completely," said Neville, who was speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet. "I won't use the word 'corruption' but the greed and selfishness is out of control. It is lawless and the Premier League is a defunct organisation. They have got 20 clubs all voting with self interests and not with the greater game at heart.
"The Super League clubs were fined £3.5m each for trying to destroy the whole of European football which was an absolute disgrace and scandal. They attempted murder of our game, to create a franchise model.
Chelsea complete record-breaking Enzo Fernandez transfer after deadline day rush
"This is happening month after month. This is starting to eat itself, it's not football anymore. An independent regulator is the only chance we have got.
"We need independence, transparency, real-time financial monitoring, proper rules on owners, proper sustainability rules that are equalised across the game. The rules across each of the four leagues in English football are all different when it comes to sustainability, it’s mad what’s going on at this moment in time.”
Do you support the introduction of an independent regulator? Let us know in the comments section
Everton have been handed a 10-point deduction (PA)Everton are planning an appeal against their punishment, having expressed "shock and disappointment" at the ruling. However, if their deduction is upheld, they run the risk of further action against them from three current and former Premier League sides.
"The Club believes that the Commission has imposed a wholly disproportionate and unjust sporting sanction," a statement from the club read. "The Club has already communicated its intention to appeal the decision to the Premier League. The appeal process will now commence and the Club’s case will be heard by an Appeal Board appointed pursuant to the Premier League’s rules in due course.
"Everton maintains that it has been open and transparent in the information it has provided to the Premier League and that it has always respected the integrity of the process. The Club does not recognise the finding that it failed to act with the utmost good faith and it does not understand this to have been an allegation made by the Premier League during the course of proceedings.
"Both the harshness and severity of the sanction imposed by the Commission are neither a fair nor a reasonable reflection of the evidence submitted.
"The Club will also monitor with great interest the decisions made in any other cases concerning the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules. Everton cannot comment on this matter any further until the appeal process has concluded."
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
