Premier League has no say on delay over Man City charges, says chief exec
The Premier League issued more than 100 charges against City in February 2023 related to alleged breaches of its financial rules and with allegedly failing to co-operate with the subsequent investigation.
The case was heard by a commission between September and December last year but no decision has been published.
The issue continues to hang over the league as the 2025/26 season gets underway this weekend, but Masters said his organisation has no control over when a verdict will be reached.
"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," Masters told Sky Sports News.
"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.
"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."
City deny any wrongdoing and have said they have a "comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence" to clear their name.
But if they are found guilty, they could face a range of punishments, including a severe points penalty, or even be kicked out of the Premier League.
City were charged with failing to report accurate financial information for nine seasons stretching from 2009/10 to 2017/18, as well as failing to provide full details of former manager Roberto Mancini's pay between 2009/10 and 2012/13.
They are also charged with failing to provide full details of remuneration in contracts with players between 2010/11 and 2015/16, and with failing to co-operate with the investigation over a period from 2018 to 2023.
Since an Abu Dhabi-backed takeover in 2008, City's fortunes have been transformed on the field from also-rans to the dominant force in English football.
Eight of their 10 top-flight league titles have come since 2012 and they also won the Champions League for the first time in 2023. — AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Soccer-Isak's absence overshadows Newcastle's opening draw with Villa
BIRMINGHAM, England (Reuters) -Newcastle United dominated possession but could not convert their chances in a scoreless Premier League draw at 10-man Aston Villa on Saturday, with Eddie Howe's visitors missing striker Alexander Isak, who wants to leave the club. With Newcastle set to play Liverpool, who recently had a big-money bid for the want-away Sweden international rejected, in their next league game at St James's Park on August 25, the stakes will be even higher. "I think it's always spicy against Liverpool, there's a history with the fixture," Howe said. "It's been an unbelievable fixture over the Premier League years, so we look forward to it. We respect them when we know how good they are, but hopefully off the back of today we're ready for it." Isak is training away from the rest of the squad and has reportedly said he won't play for the club again. He was sorely missed as his teammates struggled despite Villa being a man down for almost half an hour after Ezri Konsa sent off for pulling down Isak's replacement Anthony Gordon. "It has been difficult, because we're such a tight-knit group ... we've never really had any problems publicly, and that being the first thing that's happened, that's tested us," Gordon said. "This (situation with Isak) can sort of battle-test you and make you better in the end, I think that's going to be the case," he added, sayingthat he was prepared to play as a centre-forward if the manager wanted him to. "I really like it. I feel like, as my career progresses, I feel like I will end up more central anyway, so it's come a bit earlier than I'd imagined, but I'm really enjoying it, it's just going to take some getting used to." Howe sounded like he would be prepared to give Gordon more chances in the role as the club seek a resolution to Isak's situation. "I thought he (Gordon) looked a real threat. He plays it uniquely to him, he's less of a focal point and more of a drifter across the pitch, but he's got pace and he runs in behind and he causes teams problems in that respect," Howe said. "I hope it (Isak's situation) is resolved quickly, because it's sort of news around us all the time, rather than focusing on what we need to do on the pitch," he added. (Reporting by Philip O'Connor; Editing by Ken Ferris)
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Soccer-Ambitious PSG want to continue making history, says Luis Enrique
Soccer Football - UEFA Super Cup - Final - Paris St Germain v Tottenham Hotspur - Bluenergy Stadium, Udine, Italy - August 13, 2025 Paris St Germain coach Luis Enrique celebrates after winning the UEFA Super Cup REUTERS/Jennifer Lorenzini/File Photo (Reuters) -Paris St Germain coach Luis Enrique has been impressed by the improvement his players have shown after one week of training following a busy summer when they finished as Club World Cup runners-up and believes they can retain the Champions League. PSG had only a few training sessions before beating Tottenham Hotspur on penalties to win the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday, with Luis Enrique praising his team's fighting spirit as they begin the quest for a fifth Ligue 1 title in a row. "I like the way the team fought in the European Super Cup, with little training. That has been the DNA of this team in recent seasons, fighting all the time," he told reporters on the eve of the visit to Nantes for his side's league opener. "What we want now is to get our feel for the ball back ... at the moment it's normal not to be at 100%." Luis Enrique, who has won back-to-back league titles at PSG, previously led Barcelona to two LaLiga trophies in a row but fell short of a hat-trick. The 55-year-old said he expected a difficult start to the Ligue 1 campaign, but remained hopeful of a win at Nantes, who finished 13th last season. "I can see improvements after just one week. We know how difficult it is for players to play away from home, against any team. In Nantes, we're going to have problems. It will be tight," he said. Asked about PSG's ultimate goal this season, the Spaniard said he wanted to win the Champions League again following their 5-0 thrashing of Inter Milan in this year's final. "The prevailing feeling is that of continuing to make history, which has been the primary objective since day one. It's a special moment because it's difficult to see a team win the Champions League twice in a row," he said. "That's our goal. We're very ambitious. We know how difficult this goal is, but it's normal to have this mentality. It depends on us, on our level. And I think it's a very fun goal." (Reporting by Chiranjit Ojha in Bengaluru; Editing by Ken Ferris)
New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Newcastle held by 10-man Villa after Konsa sees red
BIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom: Newcastle got a worrying glimpse of life without Alexander Isak as they were held to a 0-0 draw in their Premier League opener at Aston Villa despite Ezri Konsa's dismissal. Villa defender Konsa was sent off for a professional foul on Anthony Gordon midway through the second half on Saturday. But Newcastle were unable to take advantage in a toothless display that showed why they are so desperate to keep hold of Isak. The Sweden striker was not involved against Villa after reportedly telling the club he wants to leave St James' Park to join Premier League champions Liverpool. Isak, 25, was the subject of a rejected £110 million (US$149 million) bid from Liverpool earlier in August. Isak, who helped Newcastle secure Champions League qualification and end their 56-year trophy drought last season, is reportedly refusing to train or play in an effort to force his way out of the club he joined from Real Sociedad in 2022. He did not take part in Newcastle's pre-season tour, training alone at his former club Sociedad instead. Isak has three years remaining on his Newcastle contract and it is understood he will be fined for missing a competitive match this weekend. Gordon led the line in Isak's absence as the England winger started out of position in the centre of Newcastle's three-man attack. Anthony Elanga made his Newcastle debut after the winger's £55 million (US$74 million) move from Nottingham Forest, while Malick Thiaw, a defender signed from AC Milan, was among the substitutes. Without Isak to power their attack, Newcastle were unable to make their territorial dominance count as Howe was left hoping for a swift resolution to the transfer saga, which could run until the window closes in September. Villa boss Unai Emery could take heart from his team's backs to the wall effort after Konsa's exit. Emery had admitted it was a "challenging" transfer window after his club were constrained by Premier League profit and sustainability rules, leaving them with just two new signings. Marco Bizot, recruited from Brest, made his debut in goal in the absence of the suspended Emiliano Martinez, while Evann Guessand, a striker signed from Rennes, was on the bench. Elanga wasted a golden opportunity for a debut goal after sprinting through on goal for a shot that was repelled by Bizot. Gordon was equally profligate when he headed Harvey Barnes' cross over the bar from just six yards. Newcastle threatened again as Bruno Guimaraes headed a free-kick towards Barnes and he picked out Gordon, whose low strike from 20 yards was turned away by Bizot. Howe held his head in his hands in frustration as the missed chances mounted. Newcastle had eight shots in the first 30 minutes, while lacklustre Villa mustered just two touches in the visitors' penalty area in the same period and failed to manage a single shot in the entire half. Villa finally tested Newcastle keeper Nick Pope through Boubacar Kamara's header immediately after the interval. But Emery's men were reduced to 10 men in the 66th minute after Elanga's superb pass sent Gordon bearing down on goal, provoking a despairing tug from Konsa that sent the England star crashing to the turf and earned the defender a red card.
