Richard Masters: Premier League chief says there is ‘no civil war’ between clubs over financial regulations

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters insists there is no “civil war” between clubs over financial regulations.

Earlier this month, plans to replace controversial profit and sustainability (PSR) rules were delayed amid legal challenges.

Clubs had been expected to adopt the new squad cost ratio (SCR) system for the 2025-26 campaign, but a trial is now set to continue.

“There’s no civil war – that would not be the way that I would put it,” said Masters, who was speaking at the Financial Times Business of Football Summit.

“Alignment among Premier League clubs has never been easy. Maybe it’s a little bit more difficult at the moment.

“But to change to a new system, particularly with what’s at stake, is a big decision. If clubs need more time to do it, then that’s OK. We will carry on that path.

“We’ve agreed in all probability on PSR in 2025-26 and then we’ll look again during the course of that season at whether we’ll make the move to SCR.”

Everton and Nottingham Forest were both docked points last season for breaching PSR, which was introduced a decade ago and allows clubs to post maximum losses of £105m over a three-year reporting cycle.

SCR is similar to Uefa’s existing financial sustainability rules, allowing clubs to spend up to 85% of their total revenues on squad-related costs, with any sanctions applied ‘in-season’, rather than at a later stage.

One of the factors behind the decision to delay the switch was the uncertainty surrounding a fresh legal challenge by Manchester City against the Premier League over new rules governing sponsorship deals.

Earlier this month the Associated Party Transaction rules between 2021 and 2024 were deemed unlawful by a tribunal panel, with a second determination on the updated rules pending.

The Premier League is also awaiting the outcome of the hearing into City’s 115 charges of alleged financial rule breaches. The club denies wrongdoing.

When asked when there may be an outcome, Masters refused to be drawn on a date: “You won’t be surprised to learn I won’t be talking about this. I can’t.

“The disciplinary panel has heard the case and they must be left alone now to consider their decision, and given the time and space to be able to do that. And that’s pretty much as far as I can go.”