Premier League chief makes Man City 'asterisks' claim as Liverpool wait on 115 charges verdict

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has hinted he wants Manchester City's alleged 115 charges to be resolved quickly following the news the club can expect to know their fate early next year. It was initially expected the hearing proceedings would start in November, but The Times reported earlier this week that it is now expected to be mid-September.

The Premier League charged City on 115 counts of financial regulations in February 2023 after initially opening an investigation five years earlier. The main points of contention regarded the financial information they had submitted to the league surrounding payments to players and managers.

It has been claimed that City face the threat of relegation from the Premier League if the most serious charges against them are proved. The club, however, strongly denies all the charges, and in a statement released in response to the initial charges, said they have 'irrefutable evidence' to support their position.

And now speaking before the new Premier League season gets underway, Masters remained tight-lipped about City's case but insisted: "We always want the football to do the talking, and obviously we don’t want to normalise asterisks on the league table or long-running regulatory disputes. We want this to be temporary, not permanent."

Meanwhile, City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak told supporters in June: "The referencing is always frustrating. I feel for our fanbase and everyone associated with the club to have these charges constantly referenced.

"It’s taking longer than anyone hoped for, but there is a process we have to go through. I’ve always repeated, let’s be judged by the facts and not by claims and counterclaims."