Premier League CEO Richard Masters issues new comment on Manchester City’s 115 charges verdict | OneFootball

Manchester City have been mentioned once more by the Premier League’s CEO Richard Masters concerning the 115 charges that loom over the club at present.

The Etihad Stadium club are believed to be closing in on a formal verdict from an independent tribunal, following the conclusion of the legal battle involving Manchester City and the Premier League over a period of around 12 weeks towards the end of last year.

One recent update from highly-respected journalist David Ornstein, speaking to NBC Sports last month, maintained Manchester City’s strong feeling of confidence on the matter, particularly with a view towards exoneration and a proving of innocence.

Ornstein told the US-based broadcaster on Manchester City, “They’re operating as usual and we saw them do a lot of business in January; none of that, to my knowledge, was to pre-empt potential punishments because they don’t think they’re going to be punished.”

As for Manchester City’s manager, Pep Guardiola, he has maintained his own bullish view on the subject in recent press conferences, recently exclaiming, “I said, ‘See and wait’ and people say Man City have to be relegated immediately.

“75 per cent of the clubs in the Premier League want it. Because I know what they do behind the scenes, this kind of stuff. But I don’t live with that.”

And now, one of the key men at the centre of the widely-covered legal battle between the two parties has issued a fresh comment on the matter.

Speaking while present at the Financial Times’ Business of Football Summit last week, Premier League Chief Executive, Richard Masters was quizzed for the latest on the 115 charges that face City over alleged breaches of the division’s financial rules.

Masters remained largely tight-lipped on the matter, but did state to reporters, “The disciplinary panel has heard the case and must be now given time to reach their decision. I can’t say more than that.”

The aforementioned David Ornstein also told NBC Sports last month, “In contract negotiations held in recent years, in transfer talks taking place, no clauses have been inserted into those deals to say, ‘If Manchester City are punished, this is going to happen’.”

He continued, “Players want to join Manchester City, and they’re continuing with everything they’re doing. “It had no impact on Pep Guardiola’s new contract, Erling Haaland’s in January, Txiki Begiristain’s decision to leave – that was long planned, Hugo Viana’s replacing him.

“They think they’re going to be fine,” he closed.

For now, it is almost certainly a case of watching and waiting for a formal verdict and announcement regarding the matter, although there remains a possibility of an appeal from either side, regardless of the outcome.