Everton will take to the skies to protest in the wake of their 10-point deduction for breaching the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules.
The Toffees are planning to fly a banner over the Etihad Stadium when Premier League leaders Manchester City host Liverpool in Saturday's televised 12.30pm kick-off. This comes in response to the club being handed a hefty punishment for failing to fall in line with the English top-flight's spending laws.
And fans will also make their opinions known when Everton host Manchester United on Sunday, according to a supporters' group. They plan to raise cards and flags at Goodison Park in defiance against the 'corrupt' Premier League, with the club's followers up in arms at the scale of their punishment for over-spending.
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Supporters' group 'The 1878s' published plans for Sunday's protests, which include a number of flags with messages aimed directly at the Premier League. One example features the league's crest alongside the words: "Where there is power, greed and money. . .there is corruption."
It was confirmed on Friday that the Merseyside outfit had been docked 10 points by an independent commission for losing £19.8million move than its allowance over a three-year period up to the 2021/22 season. Another flag labelled the league's overseers as 'corrupt' with the message: "An independent review to avoid independent regulation."
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Everton's home game against United will also be televised, and it was hoped that fans would be able to fly a plane over the ground for Sky Sports viewers to see. However, the later timing (4.30pm KO) of the game means it will be dark during the fixture.
Instead, supporters have opted to stage their protest during City's clash against rivals the Reds in Manchester. And in some ways, that decision could be the more pragmatic in any case given the larger audience likely to tune in - not to mention at least one of the teams involved.
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The deduction has dropped Everton to 19th in the standings, only avoiding last place based on goal difference. However, Sean Dyche's men could sink to the base of the table without a result at home to the Red Devils.
An intense atmosphere could help Everton in their quest for three points, and as part of the planned protests, 10 minutes into the game with United, supporters are being asked to chant ‘Premier League, corrupt as f***’.
Many Everton fans have dubbed it unfair that their club has been handed the biggest points deduction in Premier League history for one charge of spending breaches while Manchester City face 115 charges of potential FFP breaches. Chelsea are also under investigation for potential breaches of spending laws.
It's understood Everton are planning to launch a formal appeal against their points deduction in the hopes of seeing the decision overturned. In the meantime, supporters will do their utmost to make their feelings felt following a watershed moment for the club – as well as the league.
