Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has stated that resolving the case involving Manchester City’s 115 charges is essential for the league’s well-being.
An independent disciplinary commission will hear the case against City, who deny all charges of allegedly breaching the Premier League’s financial rules, with some violations dating back to 2009.
In an interview with BBC Sports Editor Dan Roan, Masters expressed his view that “it is time now for the case to resolve itself.”
When asked if the case casts a shadow over the league, he responded, “It’s been going on for a number of years, and I think it’s self-evident that the case needs to be heard and answered.”
Masters mentioned that he “could not confirm” the specific date of City’s hearing. City was charged in February 2023.
However, BBC Sport reports that the hearing is expected to start next month, with a possible result early next year, as initially reported by The Times.
Masters added, “When the case has been heard, there will be a decision published, and all the questions you would like me to answer will be addressed as part of that process.”
In a separate legal matter, City is also taking action against the Premier League regarding the organization’s tightened rules over ‘fair’ sponsorship deals. Masters was unable to comment on this case, as the proceedings are “entirely confidential.”
BBC Sport understands that the outcome of this case is expected in the coming weeks.
‘We don’t want asterisks against league tables’
Premier League clubs are trialing an alternative financial system that functions like a spending cap, in addition to the existing Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
Top-flight clubs have encountered challenges with the PSR—Nottingham Forest and Everton both received points deductions last season for breaches, while Leicester was also charged.
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters stated that the regulatory changes are intended to create an environment where “we let the football do the talking.”
He added: “We want to move to a new system that people have confidence in and can comply with and move away perhaps from normalising asterisks against league tables or long-running regulatory cases.”
Premier League clubs have also been divided over a ‘New Deal’ for funding the EFL, amidst the looming threat of a new football regulator.
Masters said it was becoming increasingly tough to find “consensus for decisions”, but he does not believe the Premier League is more divided than ever.
“I genuinely don’t feel that,” he added.
“We have some issues we have to resolve and a number of cases that need to resolve themselves and I believe they’re going to do so.”
‘No plans’ to play matches abroad
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters stated that he does not foresee Premier League games being played in foreign countries, despite other leagues considering this possibility.
In May, FIFA announced the formation of a working group to assess the potential impact of competitive domestic matches being played overseas. Spain’s La Liga is hopeful of staging games in the United States during the 2025-26 season.
Masters said: “It’s not really clear what’s happening at Fifa. We know there’s been a court case in the US but what that means in terms of regulatory change at Fifa happening, whether it’s going to be permissible or not to play matches abroad, I don’t know.
“What I do know is that there are no plans to play matches abroad.”
With the new season approaching, concerns over player fatigue are once again in the spotlight. Masters said he wanted domestic football’s interests to be considered in any changes to the international match calendar.
In July, top European Leagues – including the Premier League – and global players’ union Fifpro announced they were launching legal action against Fifa over its “abuse of dominance” in the game.
However, Fifa accused some leagues of “commercial self-interest” and “hypocrisy”, arguing most players globally were not playing more football.
Masters said the Premier League has reached a point where they felt “enough is enough”.
“With Fifa, there is no consultation about big issues with the global calendar with the leagues and I know a number of the players’ unions feel the same,” he added.
“We want consultation on the future of the international match calendar, we want domestic football’s interests to be represented as part of that system, and we want the right decisions to be made for the future of the whole game.”
Fifa rejects claims there was no consultation in regards to the matchday calendar and addressed this in a letter sent to the Premier League on 10 May.
When asked how the Premier League could complain about player fatigue when many clubs go on pre-season tours around the world, Masters said: “Every squad has to prepare for a new season. And whether that is domestic or in Europe or around the world it’s up to clubs to decide.”
‘Everyone wants VAR to improve’
There are planned changes to the Video Assistant Refereeing (VAR) system for the 2024-25 Premier League season, including the introduction of semi-automated offsides “at some point”.
England’s top flight voted to keep the technology in June, with only Wolves voting in favour of scrapping it.
Although they have not decided to remove VAR, Masters said the Premier League see that “everyone wants to improve it”.
“The things we need to resolve are the length of delays and the supporter experience in the stadium,” he said.
“We’ve got semi-automated offsides coming in at some point this season when it is ready and we’re doing other things we think will help with supporter experience.”
He added that the division’s hands were “slightly tied” by global governing bodies’ rules on how the technology is allowed to be operated.
“We would like to do more and we’re trying to work with IFAB and Fifa to expand the experience for supporters in the stadium,” Masters said.
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