9 months ago
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Tony Bellew's passion for Everton was on full display as he called his beloved club's ten-point deduction a disgrace in a fiery rant about the Premier League.
The Toffees were sanctioned in November for breaching financial rules and are now fighting against the threat of relegation yet again.
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talkSPORT understands Everton will find out if their appeal against the deduction is successful in the middle of February, with the punishment currently the biggest in the top-flight's history.
Sean Dyche's side, who could be deducted more points for a different breach, recorded losses of £124.5million over a three-year period from 2020 to 2022, which is £19.5million more than Premier League profit and sustainability rules [PSR] allow.
Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest also face a potentially hefty points deduction that could leave them in the relegation zone after they were found guilty of breaking financial rules.
It comes amid intense scrutiny over Chelsea and Manchester City's past dealings.
City are currently under investigation for 115 alleged breaches of the Premier League's Financial Fair Play rules.
Meanwhile, Chelsea are not yet under investigation but could be the subject of one soon after allegations of secret payments.
In this context, former cruiserweight boxer Bellew took to talkSPORT to express his anger at the Premier League's treatment of Everton and was even advised to calm down by Breakfast host Alan Brazil.
Appearing on the Breakfast show, he said: "Can I just get this off my chest? How can you get nine points deducted when you go into administration, but ten points for a charge? It just doesn't make sense.
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"Your club has completely failed in every aspect and every level when you go into administration and you only get nine points. We've overspent by a couple of quid and we got ten points, it doesn't make sense.
"I mean, City have spent about £6billion along with Chelsea and these fellas are laughing all the way to the bank!"
I'm a Celebrity runner-up Tony Bellew has hilarious reaction as he celebrates Everton win in front of Chelsea fan Sam Thompson
Bellew added that more money ought to be invested into grassroots football, arguing the current system is build in favour of the so-called 'big six' Premier League teams.
He said: "[Grassroots football] is on its last legs, more teams are now folding on grassroots level than ever before. It's a disgrace that the money is not being evened out properly and they're keeping the rich rich and the poor poor.
"The Premier League is built for six clubs, that's what's becoming more and more clear, and Everton aren't one of those six clubs anymore.
"When we were, it was all good then, but now we're not. It's an absolute disgrace guys, there's my rant over."
However, Bellew's rant was not over, and the Evertonian questioned whether the Premier League will apply similar punishments to other alleged rule-breakers.
He added: "They need to get a grip of themselves, find their cojones or whatever they're called and start punishing everyone equally and fairly instead of trying to pick on the small clubs.
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"Let's be honest, Everton aren't a small club, Everton are the fourth biggest club in the country, nine league titles, how many FA Cups? Cup Winners' Cup, Everton are a huge club."
Bellew then side his partner's family were laughing in the background at him as he became more animated and talkSPORT host Alan Brazil intervened to tell him to calm down.
"Tony, go and play nine holes and a few pints please. Calm down!" Brazil said.
It didn't do the job as Bellew then, in jest it has to be said, went after Brazil's Celtic telling him they'd be relegated quickly if they ever joined the Premier League.
All you can do is laugh. And that's exactly what Ally McCoist did...
