Premier League CEO Richard Masters issues fresh ‘frustration’ comments on Manchester City’s 115 charges | OneFootball

Manchester City’s 115 charges have once again been addressed by the Premier League’s CEO during a new conversation with the media this week.

The long-running case – first announced in February 2023 following a four-year investigation – remains one of the most significant and closely watched legal matters in English football history.

Manchester City stand accused of a wide range of alleged rule breaches between 2009 and 2018, including failing to provide accurate financial details relating to sponsorship and operating costs, and failing to cooperate with the Premier League’s inquiries.

City have repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, claiming to possess a “comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence” that will clear their name, while their stance also mirrors the approach taken in 2020, when the club successfully overturned a two-year European ban imposed by UEFA for Financial Fair Play breaches.

Meanwhile, frustration has been voiced by figures within the game and particularly in the Premier League such as Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy, who recently insisted the case “needs to be brought to a conclusion one way or another” for the good of the game.

Now, speaking exclusively to Sky Sports News this week, the Premier League’s CEO Richard Masters said of City’s 115 charges, “I can’t talk about it. Our rules are very specific, they say we can’t talk about things as the charges are made and not until a decision has been published.”

Masters continued, “We still await that decision, and I can’t talk about the timing and speculate when that may be. What I can tell you about is the system and how it works: it’s an independent judiciary.

“Once the allegations and charges have been put forward, they go before an independent panel which is independently selected. And they are then in charge of the process and its timings. They hear the case, they decide the outcome.

“We have no influence over that or its timing. And that’s right from an independent point of view, you have independent people making those decisions. And we just have to wait.”

Quizzed on potential frustration over the delay concerning a decision around Manchester City, Masters said, “My frustration is irrelevant. I just have to wait. Legal processes rarely take less time than anticipated. We have to be patient.”

His remarks arrive shortly after reports from The Independent suggested that a verdict could be reached in September or October, possibly during an international break.

However, even if an outcome is announced, legal experts have warned that an appeal process could prolong the matter for years, adding further cost and uncertainty to the Premier League and its member clubs.

For now, the league’s leadership appears set on keeping all discussions firmly behind closed doors, leaving supporters and rival teams to speculate as the most complex case in Premier League history slowly moves towards a conclusion.