Everton have issued a fierce statement after the Premier League side were slapped with a hefty fine for breaching financial rules. The Toffees have been instructed to pay Burnley compensation worth £30million, plus £5m interest, although they have committed to appealing the decision.

It comes after Burnley were given leave to sue Everton following a 10-point deduction, later reduced to six, for Profit and Sustainability Rule breaches in the 2021/22 season. The deduction was applied retrospectively, but Burnley believed they were worthy of compensation because the season the rule breaches took place, the Clarets were relegated.

Burnley finished 18th during the 2021/22 season, four points behind Everton, who ended the campaign in 16th, surviving by the skin of their teeth. Fast forward and Everton have been found liable and will have to compensate the Lancastrian side.

In a statement, the Premier League club have said: “Everton Football Club is surprised and angered by the decision of a Premier League Independent Disciplinary Commission to order a compensation payment to Burnley Football Club in relation to Everton’s PSR breach in June 2022. Everton has appealed the decision and is clear in its belief the ruling is fundamentally flawed in both law and fact.

“The Club does not recognise the findings of the panel in determining Burnley’s relegation from the Premier League in May 2022 was caused by a sporting advantage gained by Everton due to a breach of Profit & Sustainability Rules, for which a substantive sporting sanction has already been received.

“This ruling sets a dangerous and unworkable precedent for English football, given it is constructed on a principle that a club can be in breach of financial rules at any point in a financial year. Everton believes the panel’s ruling misrepresents the clear evidence presented by its legal representatives and that an appeal will be successful.”

Before concluding: “The Club is confident of its ongoing PSR compliance and has also obtained confirmation from the Premier League of its clear position that this ruling should not be the cause of any future PSR sanction. Evertonians can be assured that ownership are focused, with strengthened resolve, on delivering their vision of returning Everton to the top echelon of English football. No further comment will be made on this matter until the appeal process has been successfully concluded.”

In between Burnley and Everton in the table were Leeds United, who didn’t get relegated but would’ve earned more prize money for a higher finish in the table. It’s reported that Everton and Leeds reached a settlement in September 2025.

Everton found themselves in another relegation scrap the season they were handed the points deduction, but survived with more room to spare. They finished 14 points clear of 18th-placed Luton Town in the 2023/24 campaign.

Ben Stokes has been dropped from the England squad for the second Test against New Zealand amid an ongoing investigation into a nightclub altercation. Reports emerged that the England captain was embroiled in a confrontation alongside Gus Atkinson, a security member and a Saracens rugby player.

An inquiry has been launched and, while that continues, the ECB have confirmed that Stokes has been relieved of the captaincy and removed from the squad. A statement on Wednesday read: “The England and Wales Cricket Board can confirm that, given the ongoing investigation, Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson have not been made available for selection for the Rothesay 2nd Test against New Zealand, which starts at the Kia Oval on Wednesday 17 June.

“Yorkshire batter Joe Root will lead the team as Interim Captain. Sussex fast bowler Jofra Archer and Essex batter Jordan Cox have been added to the squad.”

England Men’s Test Squad in full

Joe Root (Yorkshire) – Captain

Rehan Ahmed (Leicestershire)

Shoaib Bashir (Derbyshire)

Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire)

Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire)

Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire)

More than 10,000 security staff have been drafted in amid fears that mass protests could threaten the start of the World Cup. The 2026 tournament begins on Thursday, with co-hosts Mexico taking on South Africa at Mexico City’s Banorte Stadium, better known as the Azteca. And protestors have warned that ” the ball won’t roll” if their demands are not met.

A grand ceremony is planned to open the first 48-team World Cup in history. In a headache for organisers, the day will be accompanied by demonstrations by various groups. Teachers, farmers, transport workers and families of missing people will be part of at least six groups of demonstrators that will aim to bring the capital to a halt. Under mantras such as “If there’s no solution, the ball won’t roll,” the protesters want to bring their demands to the attention of an international audience and the thousands of tourists who will be in the country.

From Thursday morning, the groups plan to march and bike along main city routes before converging on the stadium at 1pm local time (6pm BST), when the opening ceremony is due to start.

Families of missing people are planning to form human chains near the stadium and hold a minute of silence for their loved ones. Teachers from the National Coordination of Education Workers (CNTE) union will attempt to block access to the FIFA Fan Fest and hold marches near major transport hubs.

In conjunction with the blockades near the stadium in the south of the city, a contingent of more than 100,000 teachers from the CNTE will maintain a presence in the city centre.

As a result, organisers have planned alternative routes to ensure both teams’ safe passage to the 87,000-capacity venue. As part of a mammoth operation, the Mexico City Government will reportedly deploy more than 10,000 security personnel around the stadium and the nearby hotel district.

Authorities have said that while they respect the right to protest, a mass blockade or sabotage of the opening event will not be permitted. Some of the protesters are demanding the scrapping of a government administrative body, the USICAMM, and the repeal of a law that has adversely affected state employees’ pensions.

Marches by the CNTE have already taken place this week, with union chiefs demanding immediate government action. Marcelino Rodarte, the Secretary General of Section 58 of the union, said: “On June 11, the ball won’t roll if there is no response for the organised teachers.

“For these people who, from the presidency, are now creating a huge distance, preferring to side with the powerful and wealthy rather than with the people. They cater to the bankers and business owners, but they don’t listen to the people.”

Mexico will host 13 matches during the World Cup, with Guadalajara and Monterrey also staging games. England could potentially play Mexico in Mexico City in the knockout stage if they win their group.