Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has revealed a date has been set for a hearing over Manchester City’s 115 alleged breaches of the competition’s rules.
However, while being questioned at a select committee meeting of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Masters declined to reveal when that hearing will take place.
Last February, City were charged with 115 breaches of a range of Premier League rules throughout a nine-year period between 2009 and 2018, during which they won the title three times.
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Those alleged breaches were referred to an independent commission, with City denying the charges and welcoming the opportunity to put the matter to rest “once and for all” in a statement.
City’s alleged failure to comply with the competition’s laws has come under renewed focus in recent days, with both Everton and Nottingham Forest charged with breaching profit and sustainability rules during a four-year period running to the end of 2022-23 on Monday.
Club Statement. PIC.TWITTER.COM/IFGMCPSR5G
— Everton (@Everton) JANUARY 15, 2024
Both clubs are now in danger of being hit with severe punishments, which could include a points deduction for the current Premier League season.
Everton have already been deducted 10 points this campaign after an independent commission found them to have breached the same rules over the previous four-year assessment period, which ended in 2022. They are currently appealing against that sanction.
While many onlookers have compared the seemingly slow progress of the Premier League’s case against City with the expedited nature of the charges against Everton and Forest, Masters says the cases are entirely different.
Club statement.
— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) JANUARY 15, 2024
Asked on Tuesday whether he could understand fans’ frustrations regarding the delays to City’s case being heard, Masters said: “I can but they are very different charges.
“If any club, whether they are the current champions or otherwise, had been found in breach of the spending rules for year 2023, they would be in exactly the same position as Everton or Nottingham Forest.
“The volume and character of the charges laid before Man City, which I cannot talk about at all, are being heard in a completely different environment.
“There is a date set for that proceeding. Unfortunately, I can’t tell you when that is but that is progressing.
“I can’t give any details on Man City beyond saying a date has been set, I can’t tell you when that date is.”
Chelsea are also under investigation after the Todd Boehly regime self-reported apparent financial irregularities concealed by previous owner Roman Abramovich, but Masters says the league is not yet ready to reveal the outcome of that probe.
“On Chelsea, as you know, the new owners came forward with information to the FA, UEFA and the Premier League about previous ownership and we’re still investigating that,” he said.
“We don’t announce the outcome of that until we have completed those investigations.”
