Premier League chief Richard Masters ‘under pressure’ as Everton and Liverpool take part in vote.
Richard Masters is reportedly facing mounting criticism as Premier League chief executive
Premier League manager Richard Masters is apparently under siege, with a group of teams rejecting his leadership on a variety of problems.
The Daily Mail reported that Manchester City, Newcastle, Chelsea, Everton, Nottingham Forest, and Sheffield United voted against the Premier League at a recent shareholders’ meeting. According to reports, Crystal Palace and Burnley abstained.
Earlier this month, Richards stated that modifying Profitability and Sustainability standards to a’squad cost ratio’ approach would be considered. He told a Parliamentary Select Committee that because up to 35 percent of the league’s clubs play continental football every season and already had to abide by UEFA standards, there would be considerations as to whether the larger league might follow suit.
Seven of the teams that opposed the Premier League’s implementation of new associated party transaction rules (APT) were among the eight that voted against proposals to prohibit loan transactions in November. Two-thirds of the 18 votes cast supported tightening APT guidelines.
The issue may continue, since it has been reported that City is mulling legal action against the Premier League, saying the limits violate competition law. Wolves, on the other hand, apparently voted in favor, despite earlier opposing laws prohibiting teams from signing marketing arrangements with linked companies at exorbitant fees.
In November, Wolves, City, Newcastle, Chelsea, Everton, Forest, Sheffield United, and Burnley removed the ban on loans between clubs under the same ownership group. Wolves’ stance appears to have shifted as a result of the Premier League’s changes to the APT regulations.
Despite receiving multiple complaints concerning discussions with the EFL about the so-called New Deal for Football, Masters’ employment is allegedly not in immediate jeopardy. He is focused on competing for the Premier League on several fronts.
In addition to this week’s vote, top-flight clubs are dissatisfied with many important issues, including the implementation of Profit and Sustainability Rules, proposed changes to the loan system, and the financial settlement handed to the EFL as part of the new deal.
Further conflicts over future TV rights and digital strategy have left clubs more divided than at any point in the Premier League’s 32-year history. Masters faced increased heat after defending Everton’s status as a’small club’.
When asked if ‘large clubs’ are handled differently in financial rules after the Blues and Forest were accused of infringing them, Masters responded: “The standard direction [for Profit and Sustainability rules] are for everybody, they’re not just for small clubs.”
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