Premier League CEO Richard Masters said the frustration that may seem delayed in reaching the Manchester City incident decision is “unrelated” and that everyone insists that they must be “patient.”
The Premier League leveled more than 100 accusations against the city in February 2023. He introduced the issue to the Independent Committee on alleged violations of the financial rules and the alleged failure to cooperate with subsequent investigations.
The city has consistently denied fraud. The case was heard by the committee between September and December last year, but no decision has been made.
As the 2025-26 season begins this weekend, the issue continues to loom the league, with the Masters repeating it over and over that his organization has not controlled or spoken about timing.
When asked by Sky Sports news about why the league couldn’t facilitate the process, Masters replied.
“So it means that it is essentially an independent judiciary, so when a complaint or accusation is proposed, you go ahead of an independent panel that is independently selected and takes care of the process and its timing.
“They hear the incident, they decide the outcome and we don’t have any effect on it or the timing.
“And yes, if you think from an independence perspective, then when there are independent people making those decisions, we just have to wait.
“My frustration is irrelevant. I mean, I just have to wait, and rarely take longer than you expected, but we have to be patient.”
City boss Pep Guardiola has consistently supported the club’s position that no fraud has occurred, and in February he predicted that he will reach a verdict within a month.
“I think there will be a verdict and a sentence in a month,” Guardiola said. “Then you’ll see my opinion on what’s happened so far.”
Extending to his belief that the club doesn’t spend too much, he said: “My words won’t convince people. I know it’s always “just money.”
“However, in the last five years, we are the last in the top six of net spending. Even after spending this transfer period, we are still away from Chelsea (Manchester) United, Arsenal and Tottenham, from Liverpool as well.
