Everton fans staged a passionate protest outside Goodison Park on Sunday ahead of their team's match against Manchester United, expressing anger over the Premier League's decision to deduct 10 points for breaching financial rules. Supporters gathered with banners and flares, singing club songs and directing messages at the league.
Many fans held up pink cards featuring the Premier League logo and the word 'corrupt', while a larger banner read: 'Where there is power, greed and money... There is corruption'. Inside the stadium, the Premier League anthem was booed, and fans again displayed the pink cards in the 10th minute.
The points deduction has left Everton 19th in the table, five points from safety. Manager Sean Dyche described the punishment as 'unjust and disproportionate', but said it would foster a siege mentality. 'It doesn't change the focus of sorting things out on the pitch,' he said.
Mayor of Manchester and Everton supporter Andy Burnham called for the penalty to be 'null and void', arguing the investigation process led to a 'harsh penalty'. Everton are currently on a three-match unbeaten run and hope to climb clear of relegation trouble regardless of the outcome of an appeal.
