26 November 2023 , 17:57
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Everton supporters protested both before and during their team's Premier League game against Manchester United, their first fixture since being handed a 10-point penalty.
Sean Dyche's team were comfortably in mid-table before the Premier League's points ruling, but began their game against United in the bottom three. The 10 points they have been docked - in relation to alleged breaches of sustainability rules - is a record for the competition, one more than the nine points forfeited by Portsmouth when they entered administration in 2010.
A banner was flown above the Etihad Stadium during the televised Saturday game between Manchester City and Liverpool, carrying the message "Premier League = corrupt. #UTFT #EFC". Further protests were planned for Everton's game on Sunday, and materialised before kick-off and after the game began.
Supporters' group The 1878 handed out "Premier League corrupt" placards outside the ground, many of which were seen in and around Goodison Park. Banners were also displayed both inside and outside the stadium, including one reading "Where there is power, greed and money... there is corruption".
Plenty of noise was made by those inside the stadium after kick-off. It continued even after Alejandro Garnacho gave the visitors an early lead with an eye-catching overhead kick.
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Fans inside Goodison make their feelings heard (PA)Mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham also passed comment on the points penalty before kick-off. “The question in this situation is, has there been a fair process?" he asked,
"After studying the case, I have concluded that there has not been a fair process, there has been a highly flawed process. I would go as far to say there has been an ABUSE of process.
One of the banners seen outside Goodison Park before Sunday's game (Getty Images)"And that abuse of process concerns the guideline and framework that was put together in August and submitted to the independent commission. I have been a government minister and been very familiar with the world of regulations and regulatory practice.
“You cannot in an ongoing case create new policy in the middle of (it) and then introduce it towards the end of it. It is what people would call regulatory malpractice - it is simply not possible to do that. But that is what happened in this situation.”
A placard with the Premier League badge and the word 'Corrupt' (ADAM VAUGHAN/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)In his pre-match press conference, Everton manager Sean Dyche explained his own shock at the points deduction. "I was shocked and seemingly, the wave of noise after that, most people around football were shocked," he said.
"On the other hand, it doesn't change the focus. The focus since I got here was turning things around on the pitch. We were obviously on the right lines for that and this has given us a push backwards. The job hasn't changed for me.
Everton fans feel the 10-point deduction against their side is unjust (PA)"I spoke to the group and said the league table is one thing but the final league table is the truth of the season. It changed the viewpoint but it doesn't change what we're doing.
"In fact it enhances what we're doing, we've got to go harder for longer and stronger. The group have been very good in themselves I must say."