Premier League CEO Richard Masters issues apology on Manchester City’s 115 charges | OneFootball

Football supporters and those within the game have received an apology from Premier League CEO Richard Masters concerning Manchester City’s 115 charges.

The ongoing legal saga surrounding the Etihad Stadium continues to frustrate many within the footballing world, not least due to the lack of transparency and the sheer scale of the allegations.

Over two years have passed since the Premier League formally announced that Manchester City had been referred to an independent commission, yet little to no official progress has been shared publicly surrounding the case itself or any verdict.

The charges themselves stem from a four-year investigation into alleged financial misconduct covering the period between 2009 and 2018, including accusations of failing to provide accurate financial information, breaching UEFA’s Financial Fair Play regulations, and not cooperating fully with the Premier League’s enquiries since December 2018.

The commission, led by Murray Rosen KC, is empowered to enforce a wide range of sanctions from fines and points deductions to, in extreme circumstances, expulsion from the league entirely.

As reported previously, the club has consistently denied any wrongdoing and maintains confidence in a “comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence” it believes will exonerate it. The memory of Manchester City’s successful 2020 appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport – which overturned a UEFA-imposed European ban – remains a significant point of reference for those defending the club.

Now, speaking via Sky Sports News this week, the Premier League’s CEO Richard Masters was quizzed for an update on City’s well-documented 115 charges whilst attending top-flight football in the United States during pre-season.

“You can ask but unfortunately, as you know, our rules are very clear; it’s a confidential process,” Masters insisted.

He continued, “So I really can’t give any information out on timing or anything like that, there’s nothing more I can add. So, sorry about that.”

This brief public appearance follows reporting from The Independent which claimed some officials familiar with the process expect a verdict in September or October – possibly coinciding with an international break. That speculation has only intensified pressure on the Premier League’s leadership to offer clarity on a case that continues to cast a shadow over the competition’s integrity.

What remains clear is there is no unified view among clubs about how to handle the outcome, should any of the charges be upheld. As previously highlighted, expelling Manchester City would require a special vote involving 15 of the 20 top-flight clubs – an unlikely outcome due to the political and financial implications such a decision would carry.

Meanwhile, other clubs are reportedly more eager to see a line drawn under the controversy in order to protect the league’s global reputation.

Should an initial verdict indeed arrive during the Autumn, the resulting fallout – legal, sporting, and from a reputation perspective – could span several more months or even years, particularly if appeals are launched. Until then, fans, clubs, and media are left to speculate, while the Premier League continues to lean on confidentiality rules to limit public disclosure.

As Manchester City prepare for another season under Pep Guardiola, the looming spectre of the charges remains ever-present – a storyline that, for now, sits just beneath the surface of the club’s pursuit of continued domestic and European glory.