Pundits Simon Jordan and Jim White have clashed over the prospect of Everton receiving a points deduction this season - a move that would hand Leeds United a relegation lifeline. Leeds, Leicester City, and Everton are involved in a three-way relegation scrap in which one side will survive in the Premier League while the other two will join Southampton in the Championship next season, and the issue will be settled on the final day of the season on Sunday.
Everton go into their final day game at home to Bournemouth two points ahead of both the Whites and the Foxes meaning their fate is in their own hands, while Leeds and Leicester must win and hope that the Merseysiders slip up to have any chance of dodging the drop. But the relegation battle is being played out while Everton are under investigation after making losses of more than £370m over the last three seasons, which is far above the £105m limit allowed under the rules.
If they are found to have breached the rules, potential penalties include a points deduction - and Everton's relegation rivals feel that any such sanction should be imposed this season rather than next. And that was the source of the disagreement between talkSPORT pundits Jordan and White, with the latter insisting any punishment should apply this season while former Crystal Palace owner Jordan pointed out that the rules do not allow the process to be speeded up.
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White said: "We've got Leeds, Southampton, Leicester and Forest saying, quite rightly, 'why isn't this tied up?'"
Jordan replied: "No, it doesn't work that way. If you want these rules changed, off you go you 20 football clubs and vote for it. If you want rules changed, it's [within] their gift. [Premier League chief executive] Richard Masters and his gang work for them.
"He exists because of them, his job is to fulfil the outcomes they want. Good luck with it, because they won't want it because they'll be on the other side of the argument."
White responded: "It's simple: if Everton get a points deduction next season would that be fair on the three clubs that go down in the next couple of weeks?"
Jordan said: "Yes, because those are the rules."
Everton were charged with an alleged breach of the financial fair play rules in March. An independent commission will consider the charges and set the timeframe for them to be dealt with, and it is understood that the Premier League cannnot intervene while that process is ongoing.
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