The Premier League and independent panel are ‘COLLUDING’ and ‘allowing damage to Everton to continue’, claims former Liverpool mayor in bizarre conspiracy theory – as wait for verdict on appeal drags on

The former mayor of Liverpool has sensationally claimed that Everton are victims of a plot to “allow the damage to continue” by the Premier League and the panel reviewing their points deduction.

Joe Anderson claimed that the league and the independent panel are “in collusion” and called it “inconceivable” that a verdict has not yet been reached.

A decision is expected this week on Everton’s appeal against a 10-point deduction it received in November for breaching Premier League spending rules.

“It is inconceivable that the three-member panel that reviewed the Premier League’s decision to deduct 10 points from Everton did not reach a conclusion,” Anderson wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

“Therefore, we can conclude that they are in cahoots with the PL allowing the uncertainty and damage to continue,” said the lifelong Everton fan, adding “#decisionnow.”

Anderson claimed they are “allowing uncertainty and damage to continue” pending a verdict on Everton’s 10-point deduction.

Everton are 17th in the Premier League and are level on points with Luton in the relegation zone, but would be 12th without the deduction.

The Toffees were punished after they were found to have exceeded losses allowed under the league’s profitability and sustainability (PSR) rules in the three seasons to 2021-22.

Everton recorded staggering financial losses of almost £372m over a three-year period and received the harshest points penalty in Premier League history.

Their loss is more than £250m more than Premier League guidelines allow clubs to lose over a three-year period in a row.

The club immediately indicated it would challenge the sanction, calling it “totally disproportionate.”

Liverpool’s current mayor, Steve Rotheram, called the pier “ridiculous” and wrote to the Premier League to express his “deep concern and opposition” to it.

Everton will have the option of taking the matter to arbitration if they are not satisfied with the result, which they may feel obliged to do given the strength of feeling among their fans.

Fans at Goodison Park once again mocked the fair play handshake in Everton’s 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace on Monday night.

Everton would be in 12th place without the 10-point deduction, but would be level with the relegation zone

The Toffees were punished for recording financial losses of almost £372m over a three-year period.

Any challenge to the appeal would be heard by a single arbitrator rather than a three-person commission, and both sides would have to agree on the identity of the arbitrator.

Premier League rules state that Everton must submit their intention to go to arbitration within two days of receiving the appeal verdict. The hearing would take place in a matter of days.

The clubs criticized the Premier League last season for not concluding disciplinary proceedings against Everton before the end of the campaign after they were charged in March.

The Premier League had attempted to speed up the process but was blocked by the independent commission, which supported a submission by Everton arguing there was not enough time to hear the case.

Everton received a second charge for violating the PSR on January 15.

Fans vehemently protested the decision to punish Everton, with the club calling it “totally disproportionate.”

Everton will have the option of taking the case to arbitration if they are not satisfied with the result

The Toffees, along with fellow Premier League players Nottingham Forest, have been referred to an independent commission which will consider the alleged breaches. This second case will be known at the end of March.

It means that depending on the result, Everton could face further points deductions, increasing the likelihood of relegation this season.