Almost one week on from Everton being hit with an unprecedented points deduction, the battle lines have been drawn.

The Blues quickly came out to challenge the severity of the 10-point sanction. Interim chief executive Colin Chong labelled the punishment “wholly unjust” while the club said it did not recognise some of the factors said to have influenced the independent commission. An intention to appeal was made on the day the ruling was published.

Supporters mobilised quickly and now, less than seven days later, several significant protests are planned - bolstered by the incredible support shown to fan group the 1878s, which has received donations of more than £40,000 toward its efforts to highlight the fury among Evertonians.

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Meanwhile, the fight has reached the corridors of power with political heavyweights such as regional mayors and MPs expressing concerns over the penalty and showing support for Everton’s appeal. As attention begins to turn to the weekend and the visit of Manchester United to Goodison Park, this is everything being done to highlight the anger over the club's treatment and back the case to challenge it.

Club immediately made clear its intention to appeal

The first reaction came from Everton, who immediately signalled their intention to appeal. The club was aware a punishment was coming having admitted the breach by the time the independent panel convened in October. However, it said it was left “shocked and disappointed” by the nature and severity of the sanction.

The Blues said in a stement: “Everton maintains that it has been open and transparent in the information it has provided to the Premier League and that it has always respected the integrity of the process. The club does not recognise the finding that it failed to act with the utmost good faith and it does not understand this to have been an allegation made by the Premier League during the course of proceedings. Both the harshness and severity of the sanction imposed by the commission are neither a fair nor a reasonable reflection of the evidence submitted.

“The club will also monitor with great interest the decisions made in any other cases concerning the Premier League's profit and sustainability Rules. Everton cannot comment on this matter any further until the appeal process has concluded.”

The Blues are now preparing for that appeal, which will be heard and ruled upon this season.

Mayor of Liverpool lends weight to club’s complaints

The issue crossed into the political spectrum within hours as the regional mayors of the Liverpool City Region and Greater Manchester, Steve Rotheram and Andy Burnham, expressed concern over the punishment handed to Everton within hours of it becoming public. Mr Rotheram then formalised his stance by writing to Richard Masters, the chief executive of the Premier League, on Monday.

In his letter, Mr Rotheram described the deduction as “ludicrous” as he penned his support for Everton’s appeal. He wrote: “While I understand, and indeed support, the importance of maintaining discipline and upholding the integrity of the sport, it is crucial to ensure that any punitive measures are proportionate and just. I do not believe that this punishment fits the crime. The decision to deduct 10 points from Everton is excessive considering the club’s willingness and proactivity in collaborating with the Premier League to ensure all dealings were FFP [Financial Fair Play] compliant when it was clear they were close to breaching the rules.

“There are a number of mitigating factors in Everton’s transgression in relation to debt ceilings that are in effect geo-political and therefore outside of their control. As many people have pointed out, the punishment imposed appears severe for the charge in question and sets a new precedent. When compared with sanctions handed to other clubs for financial infringements it surpasses previous penalties.”

The challenge through Parliament as support signalled by two dozen MPs

The MP for West Derby, Ian Byrne, then joined the political challenge to the treatment of Everton. He tabled a motion in Parliament in which he called upon the House of Commons to, among other things, “condemn the grossly unjust points deduction imposed on Everton Football Club by a Premier League commission, a punishment lacking any legal or equitable foundation or justification for the level of sanction; note that financial-not-sporting penalties for far more severe breaches have been applied, including the industry-and-community-threatening European Super League; declare that sporting sanctions unfairly punish supporters; [and] notice the improper dismissal of extraordinary mitigating circumstances outlined by Everton…”

Mr Byrne called for an independent regulator of football to be established immediately and for the points deduction to be suspended until that body can assess the case. Plans for such an organisation were announced by the Government in the recent King’s Speech.

Twenty-one further MPs have since provided their support for the motion, including Kim Johnson, Mick Whitley, Peter Dowd, Paula Barker, Dan Carden, Sir George Howarth, Marie Rimmer, Conor McGinn and Dame Angela Eagle, all of whom represent Merseyside constituencies. Bill Esterson, MP for Sefton Central, said it is not typical for shadow ministers to back such a motion but has written to Masters to add his support to Everton’s appeal and to call on the penalty to be reconsidered. Alison McGovern, MP for Wirral South, raised the issue in Parliament as she sought an update on the progress of the introduction of an independent regulator on behalf of constituents who had contacted her about the Blues’ situation.

Former Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, who is from Liverpool and represents the west London seat of Hayes and Harlington is another backer of Mr Byrne’s motion. He is joined by Ian Lavery, Charlotte Nichols, Rob Roberts, Jim Shannon, Grahame Morris, Mohammad Yasin, Sammy Wilson, Christina Rees, Zarah Sultana, Steven Bonnar and Stewart McDonald.

Demonstration outside the Premier League’s HQ

Plans also appear to be in motion for a protest to take place outside the headquarters of the Premier League. Supporters are organising the move via social media and look set to gather at the organisation’s London base at 5.30pm on Friday.

Eyes on the sky at the Etihad before attention turns to Goodison

Against the backdrop of frustration and concern among supporters and in official circles, Everton fan organisation the 1878s raised £40,000 toward its own efforts to highlight the discontent among Blues. The group, which has been crucial to the rousing supporter efforts that have helped Everton avoid relegation over recent years, released their plans this week. They start with a plane flying a banner over Manchester City’s game when they host Liverpool in the 12.30pm kick-off on Saturday.

The 1878s have also organised a number of banners and flags to be displayed at Goodison Park on Sunday, and thousands of cards that will be handed to supporters to raise during Everton’s match with Manchester United, which is live on TV.

Before the match an ‘atmosphere march’ will start at The Brick pub on County Road at 3.45pm and end at the ground around 20 minutes later.

Everton's Fan Advisory Board gears up for action

Everton's Fan Advisory Board backed the club in its decision to appeal against the points deduction on Friday, slamming "what we believe to be a wholly disproportionate and excessive sporting sanction; a punishment that has been handed down with no regard for supporters". The organisation held a meeting with supporters to discuss the punishment and what happens next at the Winslow Hotel on Wednesday in the latest display of fan unity over the deduction, evidenced by the statement of the #AllTogetherNow campaign, which blasted the punishment as "disproportionate".