Sports

Just in: Everton heaves sigh of relief as league penalties slashed from 10points to 6

Published

1 year ago

February 27, 2024

Everton’s 10-point deduction for breaking Premier League profitability and sustainability rules has been reduced to six points after an appeal.

In November 2023, Everton faced relegation due to financial mismanagement, receiving a penalty that initially dropped them into the relegation zone. However, they successfully appealed the ruling, proving it wrong.

Everton have regained four points, moving them up to 15th in the Premier League table and securing a five-point lead over the relegation zone.

However, they still face another Financial Fair Play charge along with fellow top-flight club Nottingham Forest.

A Premier League statement read: “An independent appeal board has concluded that the sanction for Everton FC’s breach of the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules (PSRs), for the period ending Season 2021/22, will be an immediate six-point deduction. This follows the club’s appeal of an independent commission’s decision in November 2023 to impose a 10-point deduction for the club’s breach of the PSRs.

“The appeal was heard over three days earlier this month, by an appeal board comprising Sir Gary Hickinbottom (Chair), Daniel Alexander KC and Katherine Apps KC. Everton FC appealed the sanction imposed against it on nine grounds, each of which related to the sanction rather than the fact of the breach, which the club admitted.

Two of those nine grounds were upheld by the Appeal Board, which has substituted the original points deduction of 10 for six. This revised sanction has immediate effect and the Premier League table will be updated today to reflect this.”

Everton added in a statement of their own: “Everton can confirm an Appeal Board has concluded that the points deduction imposed by an independent Premier League Commission in November be reduced from 10 points to six points, with immediate effect. While the club is still digesting the appeal board’s decision, we are satisfied our appeal has resulted in a reduction in the points sanction.

“We understand the appeal board considered the 10-point deduction originally imposed to be inappropriate when assessed against the available benchmarks of which the club made the Commission aware, including the position under the relevant EFL regulations, and the 9-point deduction that is imposed under the Premier League’s own rules in the event of insolvency.

“The club is also particularly pleased with the Appeal Board’s decision to overturn the original commission’s finding that the club failed to act in utmost good faith. That decision, along with reducing the points deduction, was an incredibly important point of principle for the club on appeal. The club, therefore, feels vindicated in pursuing its appeal.

“Notwithstanding the appeal board’s decision, and the positive outcome, the club remains fully committed to cooperating with the Premier League in respect of the ongoing proceedings brought for the accounting period ending in June 2023.

“The club is still considering the wider implications of the decision and will make no further comment at this time other than to place on record its thanks to our Fan Advisory Board and other fan groups throughout this process, and to all Evertonians for their ongoing support and patience.”

In January, Everton faced another Premier League charge due to sustaining losses beyond permitted thresholds for the assessment period ending in the 2022-23 season. Further action may be taken against them.

“Meanwhile, reigning champions Manchester City are awaiting their fate after being hit with 115 historical charges related to Financial Fair Play breaches.

Sports

Real Madrid squeeze past Atletico on penalties to secure Arsenal showdown

Published

4 hours ago

March 13, 2025

Austin Ojomah

Real Madrid advanced to the Champions League quarter-finals after a tense penalty shootout victory over Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano Stadium.

The match began explosively, with Gallagher giving Atletico the lead just 30 seconds into the game, setting the tone for a fiercely contested derby. Despite Vinicius Junior missing a crucial penalty in the 70th minute, Real Madrid managed to keep their composure and force extra time.

After 120 minutes of intense football, the tie was decided from the spot. Lucas Vazquez missed his penalty for Real, while Marcos Llorente failed to convert for Atletico.

A controversial moment arose when Julian Alvarez slipped while taking his penalty, causing the ball to graze his foot twice, leading to its disqualification after a VAR review.

Antonio Rudiger stepped up to take Real’s final penalty and calmly converted, sending Carlo Ancelotti’s side through to the next round.

Real Madrid now face an exciting quarter-final clash against Arsenal, who defeated PSV Eindhoven with an emphatic 9-3 aggregate scoreline. With their European ambitions intact, Los Blancos will look to build on this dramatic victory as they aim for further Champions League glory.

Sports

Just in: Amaju Pinnick’s FIFA dream vanishes, loses re-election bid

Published

14 hours ago

March 12, 2025

Naijablitznews

Ex-Nigeria Football Federation president Amaju Pinnick has lost his re-election bid for the FIFA Council.

He garnered 28 votes during the 14th CAF Extraordinary General Assembly in Cairo, narrowly missing out on a seat by just one vote.

Mauritania’s Yahia Ahmed and Djibouti’s Souleiman Waberi secured the final spots instead.

Pinnick was first elected to the council in 2021 and was the third Nigerian to hold the position.

Sports

UCL Round Of 16 Results as PSG, Barcelona, InterMilan, Bayern Munich advance to QF

Published

24 hours ago

March 12, 2025

Austin Ojomah

Barcelona FC, Paris Saint Germain, Inter-Milan, and Bayern Munich were the first four teams to advance to the quarter final stage of the UEFA Champions League games 2024/2025

Barcelona had become the first team into the last eight, turning on the style in an emphatic second-leg win against Benfica in the early kick-off.

Barcelona 3-1 Benfica (agg: 4-1)

Raphinha and Lamine Yamal starred as Barcelona roared into the quarter-finals. The pair combined for the 11th-minute opener, the Spanish youngster providing a fine cross for the Brazilian international to coolly volley in. Nicolás Otamendi replied almost instantly for Benfica with a header.

Yamal netted the pick of the goals with a sublime curling strike on 27 minutes, and Raphinha then fired in his 11th of the campaign to become the overall top scorer this season and end the contest before half-time.

Paris Saint Germain won 1-0 at Anfield before more Gianluigi Donnarumma shoot-out heroics helped them to overcome Liverpool on penalties and reach the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.

Liverpool 0-1 Paris (agg: 1-1; 1-4 pens)

Paris keeper Donnarumma saved twice in the shoot-out as Paris overcame a 1-0 first-leg deficit to reach the quarter-finals.

Ousmane Dembélé completed a slick move by slotting in his seventh goal of the campaign in the 12th minute, drawing Paris level in the tie in doing so, but Liverpool dominated after the break and Luis Enrique’s side needed Donnarumma to brilliantly paw Luis Díaz’s header away and maintain overall parity in the tie.

The visitors went closest during extra time before Donnarumma denied Darwin Núñez and Curtis Jones from the spot, allowing 19-year-old substitute Désiré Doué to convert the decisive penalty.

Inter 2-1 Feyenoord (agg: 4-1)

Inter Milan are through to the quarter-finals for just the second time since 2010/11 after wrapping up a comfortable aggregate triumph over Feyenoord.

Marcus Thuram put the Serie A side ahead in style eight minutes in, receiving the ball midway inside the Feyenoord half and weaving his way into the penalty area before unleashing a sensational long-range strike.

Jakub Moder reduced the deficit for Feyenoord from the penalty spot just before half-time but Inter replied with a spot kick of their own shortly after the interval, converted by Hakan Çalhanoğlu for his second goal in the Champions League knockout rounds – the first coming in February 2015.

Bayern München also cruised through against Bundesliga rivals Leverkusen, and will meet Inter in the quarter-finals after the Nerazzurri completed their assignment against Feyenoord.

Leverkusen 0-2 Bayern München (agg: 0-5)

Harry Kane’s tap-in and Alphonso Davies’ first-time finish sealed a convincing victory for Bayern.

Kane, twice denied by Lukas Hrádecký in the opening stages, extended the lead across the tie early in the second half with a straightforward strike after Patrik Schick’s clearance rebounded into the path of the Bayern No9.

The England captain then turned provider when spotting the run of Davies into the area, with the Canadian international full-back sweeping in impressively.

The visitors pressed for further goals in the closing stages, with Jamal Musiala denied by the woodwork on two occasions.