'Can't just have one team punished' - Sheffield United boss weighs in on Everton points deduction

Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom has weighed-in on Everton's points deduction by stating that the Merseyside club can't be the only ones to be punished if clubs don't abide by the rules.

The Blades have benefitted from the 10-point deduction handed to Everton after their were adjudged to have broken profit and sustainability rules, with Sean Dyche's side now falling below United in the Premier League table.

However, Heckingbottom says the Premier League has to now go further, to make sure that every club who are guilty are given a similar punishment.

"I think it's opened the door to other sanctions, we can't just have one team punished, we need more if there's been breaches," he said.

Pointing out that United were placed under an embargo last season after falling behind on repayments over a transfer, which threatened to derail their promotion ambitions, Heckingbottom added: "We suffered last season from that and I think, me being a football fan I think it's only right. The rules are out there for a reason, otherwise what's the point.

"From Everton's point of view, they're going to feel hard done to because they are the first and it's the biggest punishment we've had in the Premier League so that will only be seen as justifiable if others follow suit, with bigger punishments potentially, so it's opened up all sorts."

On the pitch, Heckingbottom is fully expecting Everton to meet the challenge ahead in attempting to claw back the points they had taken away and avoid relegation to the Championship.

"From a football point of view, I've been impressed with Everton this season," he told Sky Sports. "I think they should have had more points than what they've had anyway so whilst it initially knocks them down into where they are, they've shown more than enough for me to show that they are going to be fighting and be more than capable of working their way out of it. We just hope that we finish above them.