The Premier League‘s CEO annoyed fans in a government grilling when he referred to ‘small clubs’ while talking about Everton and Nottingham Forest‘s spending charges.
Richard Masters responded to a question about fairness by insisting that the rules are ‘standard directions for everybody – not just small clubs’.
Everton and Nottingham Forest have been charged with breaking Premier League spending rules in a blow which could see further points deductions.
Fans were quick to pick up on his ‘small clubs’ comment, interpreting it as a specific swipe against their own team rather than a general statement about clubs of all sizes facing the same regulations.
One wrote: ‘That’s it in a nutshell big six and the rest is their approach across everything it seems. Co founders of the original Leagues and the Premier League most certainly are not small clubs!’
Richard Masters referred to ‘small clubs’ whenbeing grilled about Everton and Nottingham Forest’s spending breaches
Everton and Nottingham Forest have been charged with breaking Premier League spending rules, with the Toffees already having been deducted 10 points earlier this season
Another wrote: ‘So, he’s saying Everton are just cannon fodder then. Unbelievable.’
‘Regardless of your stance on Everton/ Forest, the head of the Premier League shouldn’t be labeling any club “small” especially after emphasising “fairness” in the league for the past 30 mins. This only adds more evidence showing there is inconsistency between how teams are treated,’ one wrote.
Another wrote: ‘The PL should regard ALL clubs the same. There should be no mention of “small clubs”!’
One user said: ‘Everton are a founding member of this league’.
‘Show me somebody who thinks football began in ’92,’ another said.
One wrote: ‘Can we stop treating the “other 14” clubs as equal they are not. Everton isn’t some poor underfunded club establishment. They are litterally building a half a billion stadium right now. I’m pretty sure they would be able to afford a good lawyer is they needed one.’
Masters was being quizzed by the Culture, Media and Sport Committee at a select committee meeting on Tuesday.
When asked about a potential ‘cliff edge’ between ‘really big clubs’ and the rest of the Premier League, Masters said: ‘If anybody was found to be in breach and put forward their PSR [Profit and Sustainability Rules] calculation that was above the threshold, then we’d be doing exactly the same thing on exactly the same timeframe.
‘It’s a very separate process for the other cases because they are fundamentally different in nature. Unfortunately I can’t go into all of that today.’
He added: ‘If any club, whether they are the current champions or otherwise, had been found in breach of the spending rules for year ’23, they would be in exactly the same position as Everton or Nottingham Forest.
‘The volume and character of the charges laid before Man City, which I cannot talk about at all, are being heard in a completely different environment.’
Everton have already been docked 10 points for breaching Financial Fair Play rules but now have charged for their more recent accounts alongside Forest.
It is understood that Everton are furious at the latest sanction and will, as they did the first time round, appeal the verdict.
‘Everton FC and Nottingham Forest FC have each confirmed to the Premier League that they are in breach of the League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR),’ the Premier League said in a statement.
‘This is as a result of sustaining losses above the permitted thresholds for the assessment period ending Season 2022/23.
‘In accordance with Premier League Rules, both cases have now been referred to the chair of the Judicial Panel, who will appoint separate Commissions to determine the appropriate sanction.
Everton were docked 10 points earlier this season for breaching Financial Fair Play regulations
Large groups of supporters gathered to show their fury amid the Premier League’s ruling first time around, which saw Everton slapped with a 10-point deduction
‘Commissions are independent of the Premier League and member clubs. The proceedings are heard in private with the Commissions’ final decisions made public on the Premier League’s website. The League will make no further comment until that time.’
In a statement, Everton said: ‘Everton Football Club acknowledges the Premier League’s decision to refer a breach of Profit & Sustainability rules (PSR) for the assessment period ending with the 2022/23 season to an independent Premier League commission.
‘This relates to a period which covers seasons 2019/20, 2020/21, 2021/22 and 2022/23. It therefore includes financial periods (2019/20, 2020/21 and 2021/22) for which the Club has already received a 10-point sanction. The Club is currently appealing that sanction.
‘The Premier League does not have guidelines which prevent a club being sanctioned for alleged breaches in financial periods which have already been subject to punishment, unlike other governing bodies, including the EFL. As a result – and because of the Premier League’s new commitment to deal with such matters “in-season” – the Club is in a position where it has had no option but to submit a PSR calculation which remains subject to change, pending the outcome of the appeal.
‘The Club must now defend another Premier League complaint which includes the very same financial periods for which it has already been sanctioned, before that appeal has even been heard. The Club takes the view that this results from a clear deficiency in the Premier League’s rules.
‘Everton can assure its fans that it will continue to defend its position during the ongoing appeal and, should it be required to do so, at any future commission – and that the impact on supporters will be reflected as part of that process.’
Meanwhile, Mail Sport understands that part of Forest’s defence is now likely to involve the sale of Brennan Johnson to Tottenham for £47.5million in August.
As FFP calculations are made over a three-year period ending on June 30, the Johnson deal will count towards the reckoning for 2021-2024 rather than 2020-23.
Clubs are permitted to make financial losses of £105m over a three-year period, with Forest reporting an annual loss of £45.6m in their last accounts.
Forest say they could have sold Johnson to Brentford in June for about £30m, which would have put them in a healthier financial state for the 2020-23 period, but nearly £20m out of pocket overall.
For the club’s sustainability they argue that accepting nearly £50m for Johnson in August was better than accepting £30m earlier in the summer.
A Forest spokesman said: ‘Nottingham Forest acknowledges the statement from the Premier League confirming that the club has today been charged with a breach of the league’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules.
‘The club intends to continue to cooperate fully with the Premier League on this matter and are confident of a speedy and fair resolution.’
The charges levelled against Manchester City in February for 115 alleged breaches is a case that remains ongoing.
