'Corrupt!' - Furious Everton fans protest against 10-point deduction by Premier League for breaking financial rules before Man Utd match

The Goodison Park faithful showed their resistance to the Premier League in the first match since the organisation hit the Toffees with a 10-point deduction for breaching its financial fair play rules. Almost every home supporter was seen brandishing a 'Corrupt' leaflet bearing the league's logo which were distributed outside the stadium. The fans also vociferously booed the Premier League anthem before kick off, which was barely audible amid the deafening whistles and displayed the 'Corrupt' leaflets again in the 10th minute.

Under the regulations set out by the Premier League, clubs are allowed to lose a maximum of £105m across a three-year period. Everton lost £19.5m more than this, and have been sanctioned as a result. The Toffees have spent lavishly since Farhad Morshiri bought the club in 2016, an attempt to arrest an alarming slide on the pitch. The commission that handed down the punishment ruled that such spending was "recklessness that constitutes an aggravating factor."

Everton were referred to an independent commission after their financial records for the 2021-22 season were audited. Burnley and Leeds had written to the Premier League to ask if Everton had broken rules at the time, and the commission held a five-day hearing last month, with the punishment handed down on November 17.

Sean Dyche's side were hovering nine points above the relegation zone before the sanction was announced but have been plunged back into the drop zone and will face a real battle to stay up and preserve their status as one of the few clubs to have remained in the Premier League since it was founded in 1992.