Richard Masters Admits Frustration Over Delayed Verdict as Wait for Ruling Passes 18 Months Since Hearing Concluded
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has admitted that the long-running case against Manchester City over 115 alleged breaches of the league’s financial rules is “taking longer than expected,” as the club and its rivals continue to wait for a verdict.
A Case Still Without a Resolution
The Premier League brought charges against City in February 2023, following a lengthy investigation into the club’s financial reporting between 2009 and 2018. An independent three-person commission held a 12-week hearing at London’s International Dispute Resolution Centre between September and December 2024, but more than 18 months on from the close of that hearing, no ruling has been published. City deny all 115 charges and maintain they have irrefutable evidence to clear their name.
Speaking to the BBC, Masters acknowledged the process had run well past initial expectations. “I do accept it’s taking longer than expected, and I understand that people want to find out as soon as possible what’s going on, but I simply can’t provide that,” he said, adding that the Premier League’s rules require the process to remain confidential until the commission is ready to hand down its decision.
Frustration Tempered by Due Process
Masters, addressing reporters at a launch event for the new season, said he understood the growing impatience among fans and rival clubs but stressed that the league has no ability to influence either the outcome or the timing of the commission’s ruling. “As every day elapses, we must be a day nearer,” he said. “I obviously can’t comment on it. I do understand the frustration. It has taken longer than expected, but we have to follow the process.”
He went on to say that the Premier League’s core responsibility is to ensure the independent commission establishes the truth of the allegations, regardless of how long that takes. “In the end, the Premier League’s responsibility is to ask the Independent Commission to look at serious allegations and to establish the truth. That shouldn’t be qualified by it taking too long.”
Why Man City’s Case Differs from Chelsea’s
Masters also addressed comparisons with Chelsea, who accepted a sanction agreement, including a fine, over their own historical financial breaches. He explained that the two cases have followed very different paths because Chelsea’s current ownership cooperated fully and volunteered information, allowing the League to reach a settlement rather than proceed to a full hearing. City’s case, by contrast, has involved contested evidence and a formal disciplinary process before an independent panel, making a swift resolution far less straightforward.
What’s at Stake
If found guilty, City face a range of possible sanctions, from fines to a significant points deduction, with some rival clubs reportedly pushing for the harshest available punishment. Any ruling against the club would also likely be followed by an appeal from whichever side loses, extending the saga even further. City, who have won multiple Premier League titles during the period under investigation, continue to insist they will ultimately be cleared.
Source: Sky News, 18 August 2026
