'What are they trying to hide?' - Mayor of Manchester, and Everton fan, Andy Burnham slams Premier League for refusing to release minutes of Toffees hearing amid 10-point penalty

The Toffees were deducted 10 points in November for breaching the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability rules. Dame Caroline Dinenage, the MP who chairs the Culture, Media and Sport committee, asked Premier League chief executive Richard Masters to provide minutes of the board meeting that concluded Everton's punishment, however, that request was rejected. Masters said it is not their "practice" to publish minutes of meetings as the Premier League is a "private business". Now, Toffees fan Burnham slammed this decision, saying this showed football needed an independent regulator.

He wrote on social media: "The [Premier League] could not have made a better case for a statutory regulator for football if they had tried. What are they trying to hide?"

Everton, who could be hit with another points deduction due to alleged P&S breaches, are appealing their punishment and a verdict is set to be delivered in the coming weeks. This comes at a time when Manchester City have been charged with 115 financial breaches and Nottingham Forest could get a points deduction, too.

While Everton could find out their fate this month, City's hearing won't take place until later on this year, due to the sheer size and magnitude of the case. A verdict for that won't happen until 2025 at the earliest.