Former Liverpool player John Aldridge believes that Manchester City and Chelsea are unlikely to face significant points deductions similar to Everton’s recent penalty.
Everton incurred a 10-point deduction after breaching Premier League rules related to financial matters, promptly putting them in the relegation zone. However, the club’s leadership has declared their intention to contest the punishment.
Manchester City, another club facing scrutiny for financial rule violations, has City fans anxious about potential consequences following Everton’s penalty. Despite reports of over 100 rule breaches between 2009 and 2018, City is yet to learn the extent of any punishment from the Premier League.
Speculation has also arisen regarding payments linked to Chelsea’s former owner, Roman Abramovich, although the league has not yet charged them.
Aldridge, criticizing Everton’s points deduction as “excessive,” expresses doubt that City or Chelsea will face similar harsh penalties.
He attributes this expectation to the financial strength of these clubs, suggesting that their substantial resources act as a deterrent for the Premier League to take severe action against them. Aldridge argues that City and Chelsea, with their significant financial backing, have the means to navigate potential rule violations more effectively compared to Everton.
The former Liverpool great emphasizes the disparity in financial capabilities among clubs, stating that Everton lacked the resources to contest the punishment as effectively as wealthier counterparts.
Aldridge questions whether Everton’s limited financial capacity influenced the Premier League’s decision to pursue them aggressively while speculating that clubs like City and Chelsea, with ample financial resources, may have deterred the league from taking similar actions.
Despite his reservations about Everton’s treatment, Aldridge hopes for fairness in the Premier League’s approach to financial rule violations. He acknowledges the league’s pressure to address such issues and expresses anticipation regarding potential actions against City, emphasizing the need for consistency across all clubs.
The situation has led to concerns among City fans about the possibility of their team being expelled from the Premier League. While Everton received a 10-point deduction for a single breach, City is reported to have committed 115 breaches. The unprecedented nature of these cases makes it challenging to predict the outcomes.
In the case of Chelsea, the club was already under investigation for financial violations. Recent claims of additional hidden payments potentially breaching the law have added to Chelsea’s scrutiny.
These allegations, reported by Todd Boehly’s group, surfaced after their acquisition of the club from Abramovich in May 2022 and were made public this month through a joint investigation by The Guardian and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism.
The developments across these clubs highlight the evolving landscape of financial regulations in football and the challenges faced by both clubs and governing bodies in ensuring compliance and fairness.
