This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. The Toffees were plunged into the relegation zone on Friday after they were found guilty of breaching financial regulations.

Everton's finances are not alone in being under the microscope, however, with Manchester City facing 115 charges, while Chelsea are also under investigation for potential historic breaches.

With the Premier League having taken such a hardline with Everton, despite a relatively minor offence, former Arsenal chairman Dein believes others should be 'quaking in their boots'.

Speaking to talkSPORT, he said: 'One has to differentiate between the Premier League charging and what happens after that.

'It is an independent tribunal, the Premier League actually have nothing to do with the result and the decision.

'The Premier League do the charging but do not do the judgement.

On Everton's plight, Dein added: 'I actually thought the penalty was excessive. I'd probably go as far as to say over the top.

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'It is all about proportionality and whether the penalty reacts against the crime and what is the proportion there?

'There was Covid, they were building a new stadium, and in the scheme of things I think it was all about PS19million.

'When you think about how much money is spent in football today, it is not an extraordinary amount of money.'

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