Richard Masters has broken his silence on Manchester City’s legal dispute with the Premier League. The English top-flight’s chief executive has stated that any annoyance he may feel over the delay in reaching a decision in the case is ‘irrelevant’ and that he, along with everyone else, will ‘have to be patient’.
In February 2023, the Premier League levelled more than 100 charges against City, relating to alleged violations of its financial regulations and an alleged failure to cooperate with the ensuing investigation, and referred the issue to an independent commission.
City have consistently and vehemently denied any misconduct. The case was heard by a commission from September to December last year, but no verdict has been published yet.
As the 2025-26 season kicks off this weekend, the matter continues to loom over the league, with Masters reiterating that his organisation has no influence or say on the timeline.
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When questioned by Sky Sports News as to why the league couldn’t expedite the process, Masters responded: “I can’t answer that specific question. What I can tell you about is the system and how it works.
“I mean, it’s an independent judiciary, essentially. So once the allegations, the charge has 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, and we have no influence over that, over it or its timing. And that’s right, if you think from an independence point of view, that there is independent people making those decisions, and we just have to be waiting.”
Masters added: “My frustration is irrelevant, really. I mean, I just have to wait, and legal processes rarely take less time than you anticipated, but we have to be patient.”
In February earlier this year, Pep Guardiola suggested that a final verdict would be announced in March. The Man City boss told reporters: “In one month, I think there will be a verdict and a sentence. After that, we will see my opinion of what happened so far.”
Then, a few days later at the Financial Times Business of Football Summit in London, the La Liga president claimed that he submitted a complaint about Man City to the European Commission in 2023. Guardiola was asked about Javier Tebas’ comment ahead of a clash against Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup.
“Next,” said the former Barcelona boss as soon as he heard Tebas’ name. Guardiola said ‘next’ again when the question continued. Asked if he’s tired of being asked about Man City’s finances, he repeated: “Next.”
When asked why Man City have become a legal target for clubs and leagues, Guardiola said: “I don’t know. It happened in the past with UEFA, and now in a few weeks it happens in the Premier League, the sentence, right. We’ll wait, and after we’ll talk.”
The Spaniard’s final comment referenced Man City’s legal battle with the Premier League.
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