'EVERYONE WANTS CLARITY' OVER MAN CITY CHARGES, SAYS ARSENAL CHIEF

Richard Garlick became Arsenal's chief executive in September 2025. Getty Images 

Everyone in the Premier League wants clarity and a speedy resolution in the case against Manchester City which features more than 100 alleged breaches of its financial rules, says Arsenal chief executive Richard Garlick.

An independent commission is yet to publish a ruling, more than a year and a half after a disciplinary hearing concluded, and three and a half years since City were first charged.

City have always denied wrongdoing.

When asked if the length of time the process was taking was frustrating Arsenal, Garlick told BBC Sport: "It has gone on for a while.

"Everybody - the league and the teams - would want the clarity around what's going to happen next.

"But it's not something that I can control. It's not something that I can speculate on.

"And I just hope that there is a solution very quickly."

Garlick's comments come on the eve of the new season and after Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said: "I do accept it's taking longer than expected, and I understand that people want to find out as soon as possible what's going on, but I simply can't provide that."

Describing the case as "hugely complex", Masters added: "Our rules are very clear - we have to follow the process, and there's only one real clear route through, which is to allow that process to reach its natural conclusion."

Privately, officials at a host of other Premier League clubs BBC Sport has spoken to in the past 24 hours have also expressed their frustrations, while acknowledging that this is an independent process which is running on its own timetable.

One said the Premier League should be "actively seeking to put in place a better system" to ensure speedier resolutions.

Another made the point that given that the league spent £45m on legal bills during the 2023–24 season on disputes over its financial regulations, there are mounting concerns at the spiralling costs of such a long legal fight.

The charges City are contesting relate to the:

• alleged failure to provide accurate financial information, including details for player and manager payments, from 2009-10 to 2017-18 seasons

• alleged failure to comply with Uefa's financial fair play (FFP) rules from 2013-14 to 2017-18

• alleged breaches of Premier League's profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) from 2015-16 to 2017-18.

City also face multiple charges that they failed to co-operate with the Premier League's investigation between December 2018 and February 2023.

Champions Arsenal were Premier League runners-up to City in both 2023 and in 2024 when they were beaten by just two points.

Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham reportedly served legal notices on City in 2024 reserving the right to seek compensation if the club are found guilty, with some said to have estimated potential losses of more than £100m.

They may also have been encouraged by Everton being told in June that they must pay Burnley £35m in compensation over the impact of a breach of the Premier League's financial rules.

Analysis

While most would argue that Garlick is simply articulating how almost everyone in English football feels about the length of time this saga has hung over the Premier League, it is still rare for a senior figure at a top club to break ranks and say anything publicly about the case.

Last year, the former Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy said it had gone on for "far too long", but until now that was an isolated intervention.

It is no surprise that City's rivals are frustrated.

The club has spent £151m so far this summer transfer window, including a club record £116m for England midfielder Elliot Anderson.

They have also spent almost £700m on new players since being charged in February 2023, and have won six major trophies in that time.

Meanwhile, they - and other clubs - remain in limbo.

Are Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri for sale?

Meanwhile, Garlick insists Arsenal are not actively seeking to sell homegrown talents like Myles Lewis-Skelly or Ethan Nwaneri, but that the Premier League champions would "consider" the "right opportunity" for both the players and the club.

Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri - both 19 years old - have been linked with summer moves away, including to rival clubs in the Premier League.

Their 'homegrown' status, having progressed through the ranks at Arsenal, means any sale would allow the club to book pure profit in its accounts, helping balance the financials in a year when the Premier League moves to a new Squad Cost Ratio (SCR) rule of spending controls.

The new rules mean clubs can spend 85% of their revenues on fees, wages and contracts but the number drops to 70% for clubs competing in Europe.

When asked if the club needed to sell players to help comply, Garlick said: "Every club now has adopted a player-trading model. The way in which football is and the fees involved, it makes sense for you to trade players and to generate revenues through those sales.

"I won't say it's a necessity, but it's only a matter of good housekeeping that you do look at those opportunities when they arise, and as long as they're right for the club, then that's something that we will explore."

When asked if he wanted Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri to stay at Arsenal, he said: "I can't stop other clubs being interested. Myles had a fantastic end to last season and has started this one really well. We're very, very happy with him.

"Ethan has had a great pre-season as well and it's just a case of looking at what opportunities there are that will help both of those in terms of their career moving forward.

"We are not actively looking at selling those homegrown players but if the right opportunity came up - right for them and the club - we'd obviously consider that."

Despite signing Bruno Guimaraes, Arsenal have tried and failed to bring in Vinicius Jr and missed out on Morgan Rogers this summer in what has been a muddled transfer window, but Garlick remains hopeful of further additions "that are going to improve the club".

"As you are competing for Premier League titles or Champions League trophies, you need to bring in a certain calibre of player. And I think that that pool of players is smaller now than maybe it was a few years ago," he said.

"We've got a really competitive squad and if the opportunity came again in the next couple of weeks for us to add a player that's going to improve Arsenal, then we will look at that."

Garlick also expressed confidence around the contract status of manager Mikel Arteta, with the title-winning manager into the final 12 months of his current deal.

"Mikel wants to be at Arsenal, we want Mikel at Arsenal," he said.

"It's only a matter of time before we put that into a new contract. Everyone is confident and calm. We're just navigating a transfer window and I'm sure Mikel's contract will be resolved shortly."

- Dan Roan

MANCHESTER UNITED AND TOTTENHAM SET TO TRIGGER HUGE £1B N WINDFALL, IT'S NEVER HAPPENED IN PREMIER LEAGUE BEFORE

The Europa League final between Tottenham and Manchester United is already rich with narrative – and the finances behind the clash in Bilbao are far, far bigger than just UEFA prize money.

For Tottenham, who have the chance to end a 17-year silverware drought, it could turn a season which has been historic for all the wrong reasons into one that will be cherished by fans forever.

For Manchester United, finals are usually about glory, but this one is more about saving face.

It’s a remarkable lifeline for both clubs, who have each failed to reach the 40-point mark in the Premier League that has historically been the benchmark for avoiding relegation.

Europa League final: Champions League qualification cash is just the start for Spurs and Man United

By now, readers will be well aware of what is at stake financially in terms of Champions League qualification, which winning the Europa League delivers.

Before a ball is kicked in next season’s Champions League, whoever wins the 2024-25 Europa League final will have earned more than £50m from UEFA, with performance-related bonuses taking potential winnings north of £100m. The new 36-team format is extraordinarily lucrative.

Photo by Alex Caparros – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images

Incidentally, UEFA introduced the NEW model to placate former Super League clubs, including Spurs and the Red Devils, who have consistently lobbied for more money-spinning European fixtures even if for Ruben Amorim and Ange Postecoglou the rigours of a bloated matchday calendar are a fitness headache.

This is the reality of football finance, however. It’s the same system that allowed Tottenham and Manchester United to spend a combined £922m on their squads last season.

Winning the Europa League would carve out precious headroom under Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), which Sir Jim Ratcliffe needs to rebuild the club and justify his brutal programme of job cuts and price rises since INEOS became United’s largest individual shareholder last year.

Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images

For Daniel Levy and ENIC, the final at San Mames is as much about their legacy in North London as it is about finance.

But while Spurs have no PSR issues, real-world cash is another matter.

Under their self-sufficient ownership model, the guarantee of Champions League revenue next season would be a game-changer in respect of their ability to compete in the transfer market.

Photo by Robin Jones – AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images

And, as the latest analysis from TBR Football shows, the ripple effect from the Europa League final will be felt well beyond San Mames, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Old Trafford.

Manchester United and Tottenham set to see Premier League smash £1bn financial record

Matchday income is cool again.

For years, the narrative among fans – and indeed in some boardrooms – was that the money that clubs generated through the turnstiles was insignificant compared to TV revenue.

However, Tottenham were ahead of the curve when they built their new stadium in N17 as Premier League clubs are turning to matchday income once more to give them a competitive financial edge.

Manchester United, of course, are planning perhaps the most ambitious stadium build in football history, with a new build near the existing Old Trafford expected to accommodate 100,000 fans.

Last season, Premier League clubs generated £922m through the turnstiles.

Given that the Man United vs Tottenham Europa League final guarantees that there will be six teams in the Champions League next season and, after Crystal Palace’s FA Cup triumph over Man City, at least nine teams in Europe in total, that figure will rise again next season.

Both Tottenham and Man United would expect to break their single-season matchday income records of £137m and £118m respectively.

Everton meanwhile are expected to almost triple their matchday income at their new stadium, while Leeds United’s promotion means there is another big-ticket club in the Premier League.

Combined with dozens of extra matches for Premier League clubs in Europe, total matchday income across the division will surpass £1bn for the very first time.

Europa League triumph will transform summer transfer window for Spurs or Red Devils

Given that either Spurs or Man United will get £50m-plus in extra revenue next season, the winner of the Europa League final will go into the summer transfer window on much surer footing.

After woeful seasons, both clubs need funds to strengthen. Without the guaranteed UEFA money, that would likely mean far more player trading, as opposed to concentrating on incoming transfers.

Spurs are 100 per cent guaranteed to pass both the Premier League and UEFA’s PSR assessments for the current campaign.

PSR infographic. Credit: Adam Williams, GRV Media

Man United will be closer to the line but are also expected to be ultimately okay.

But with liquid cash at a premium in both N17 and M16, the security of Champions League income would change everything ahead of a crucial window.

- Adam Williams

I'M REALLY HAPPY WITH KOBBIE - RUBEN AMORIM

Ruben Amorim insisted he wants to hang on to Kobbie Mainoo amid speculation Manchester United are willing to offload the teenage midfielder this month.

Mainoo still has two-and-a-half years left to run on his contract but United have little wiggle room to buy players in the January transfer window because of profit and sustainability (PSR) regulations.

It has been reported United are prepared to listen to offers for anyone in their squad and, as a homegrown player, the sale of Mainoo, who has been linked with Chelsea, could significantly help the balance sheet.

Kobbie Mainoo has been linked with a move away from Old Trafford (Peter Byrne/PA)

But while Amorim did not offer any guarantees, the United head coach, whose side take on Arsenal in the FA Cup third round on Sunday, indicated his main focus is on retaining his key figures at Old Trafford.

“My players are always my favourites, I really love my players and I want to keep them, especially the talented ones,” Amorim said. “I’m really happy with Kobbie – he is improving.

“Our idea is always to keep the best players. We know the position that the club is in this moment. I’m very happy and I really like our players, especially the guys from the academy.”

While 19-year-old Mainoo is growing into an increasingly important figure under Amorim, Marcus Rashford, another academy graduate, has been marginalised since the Portuguese took control of United.

Rashford last month admitted he was ready for a “new challenge” and the latest reports surrounding his future suggest he could be loaned to West Ham for the remainder of the season.

Marcus Rashford has been linked with West Ham (Martin Rickett/PA)

Asked whether Rashford, who was absent for last weekend’s 2-2 draw at Liverpool because of illness but is available to face the Gunners, still has a future at United if he is loaned out, Amorim was guarded.

“We will see,” Amorim said. “Let’s focus on the game.”

United arrested a three-game losing run by collecting a point at Anfield but they are still nervously looking over their shoulders in the Premier League, sitting 13th in the table, seven points above the drop zone.

They will briefly put aside their top-flight problems this weekend, although they have been given a stern first outing as defending FA Cup champions with a trip to 14-time winners Arsenal.

“I will choose the best team to win because we want to win the cup,” Amorim, who confirmed Altay Bayindir will feature ahead of regular goalkeeper Andre Onana at the Emirates Stadium, said.

Altay Bayindir will start against Arsenal (Mike Egerton/PA)

“We are in a difficult moment, we are improving. We have won some cups and we want to continue and we know at this stage we have a really strong match that we want to win.”

United go into the clash having lost their last four matches against Arsenal, who eased to a 2-0 win over Amorim’s side last month courtesy of goals from Jurrien Timber and William Saliba.

Amorim highlighted Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard as one of their instrumental performers.

“I think he’s really special,” Amorim added. “His influence on Arsenal is impressive. When he’s playing, Arsenal is a different team but they can win and lose with or without Odegaard.

“I expect a strong team. If Odegaard is in their team, they will be stronger, for sure.”

- David Charlesworth, Pa

ARNE SLOT: MAYBE MOHAMED SALAH KNOWS ABOUT MAN CITY'S CHARGES

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has joked that Manchester City might not be in the Premier League next season amid the ongoing investigation into the club's compliance with financial rules.

The Premier League charged City on 115 counts of financial regulations in February 2023 after initially opening an investigation five years earlier.

Slot's comments came in response to a question about Mohamed Salah's Liverpool future after the Egypt international said Sunday's 2-0 win over City could be the last time he faces Pep Guardiola's side at Anfield as the uncertainty over his future at the club continues.

"Maybe Mo knows more about the 115 acquisitions [charges] so expects them not to be there in the Premier League next season," Slot quipped in a news conference on Tuesday ahead of Liverpool's trip to Newcastle United.

"The boring answer is always the same. This is not the place for me to talk about Mo's contract. It was a joke, I repeat it was a joke."

City strongly deny all the charges against them, and claimed in a statement released in response to the initial charges that they have "irrefutable evidence" to support their position and "look forward to this matter being put to rest once and for all."

The charges relate to a 14-season period from 2009-10 onwards and comprise 54 counts of failing to provide accurate information, 14 counts of failing to provide accurate details for player and manager payments, seven counts of breaching the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules (PSR), five counts of failing to comply with UEFA regulations including financial fair play (FFP) and 35 counts of failing to cooperate with Premier League investigations from 2018 onwards.

Arne Slot was referencing Mohamed Salah's comments about Sunday's win against Manchester City possibly being his last Richard Martin-Roberts - CameraSport via Getty Images

Liverpool's victory over City on Sunday saw Slot's side move 11 points clear of the champions and nine points clear at the top of the Premier League table. However, the Dutchman has played down talk of his side being title favourites, insisting there is a long way to go until the end of the season.

"It's not that special for us to be on top of the Premier League or the Champions League," he said.

"This club, this team, these players are used to be top of the league and competing for every trophy. They have experienced this. They also know it's a long season and to win the league against the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and City -- because I see those three as our main competitors -- that you have to be on top of our game for 10 months.

"We've seen the quality of the three already and know we have to stay on top of our game. We now face Newcastle who beat Arsenal and Chelsea at home, and drew with City. They don't need me to tell them how tough a game it will be."

- Beth Lindop, Correspondent

LEICESTER WIN APPEAL, WILL AVOID PREMIER LEAGUE POINTS REDUCTION

Leicester City have won an appeal against a decision that could have led to a points deduction for an alleged breach of Premier League Profitability and Sustainability (PSR) rules, the club said on Tuesday.

Leicester, who are back in the top flight after winning the Championship last season, appealed on the basis that an independent commission ruling on the case did not have jurisdiction, which was upheld by an independent appeal board.

The decision came on the grounds that Leicester's accounting period ended on June 30, 2023, when the club was no longer a member of the Premier League following their relegation to the second tier the previous month.

Premier League clubs are only allowed to lose up to £105 million pounds ($137.56 million) over a three-season period under the PSR rules, and both Everton and Nottingham Forest were given points deductions last term.

The appeals board concluded that the point of time at which Leicester allegedly exceeded the loss threshold could not have come before June 30, and any losses could, in part, result from their trading activities after they ceased to be a Premier League club.

"Leicester City welcomes the Appeal Board's comprehensive decision, which supports our consistently stated position that any action against the Club should be pursued in accordance with the applicable rules," the Foxes said in a statement.

Leicester were first referred by the Premier League to the independent commission in March, and the commission dismissed the club's first challenge to its jurisdiction to hear the case.

The Premier League said they were surprised and disappointed by the decision announced on Tuesday.

"The Appeal Board's decision effectively means that, despite the club being a member of the League from Seasons 2019/20 to 2022/23, the League cannot take action against the club for exceeding the relevant PSR threshold in respect of the associated accounting periods," the Premier League said in a statement.

Leicester responded in their own press release, saying they wanted to avoid any misunderstandings which could arise in light of the Premier League's statement in response to the appeal decision.

"Leicester City wishes to emphasise the finding of the Appeal Panel that, when considering the wording which is actually used in the Premier League rules, the club did not breach the Premier League PSRs for the assessment period ending 30 June 2023," read the release.

- Reuters 

PREMIER LEAGUE CLUBS AGREE SPENDING CAP, COULD BEGIN 2025

Chelsea abstained from the Premier League shareholders' meeting vote on implementing a spending cap. Catherine Ivill/Getty Images

 Premier League clubs have taken a step towards implementing a spending cap, voting on Monday for the league to complete the economic and legal analysis needed for such a model.

The model will be presented to clubs before a final vote at the league's Annual General Meeting in June at the earliest, British media reported. It would replace the existing Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) from 2025-26.

The cap would limit how much clubs can spend in a bid to prevent the super-rich teams from dominating the league amid concerns over a growing gulf between the haves and have-nots.

The cap, discussed at a Premier League shareholders' meeting on Monday, would be based on how much money the lowest-earning club in the English top flight makes from television rights and could come into effect as early as the 2025-26 season.

"We will obviously wait to see further details of these specific proposals, but we have always been clear that we would oppose any measure that would place a 'hard' cap on player wages," the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) said.

"There is an established process in place to ensure that proposals like this, which would directly impact our members, have to be properly consulted on," the statement added.

Media reports said 16 clubs voted in favour of the league pursuing a salary cap, with Chelsea abstaining and Manchester City, Manchester United and Aston Villa dissenting.

Manchester City face over 100 charges of allegedly breaching the league's financial rules. The club have denied wrongdoing.

Everton were deducted 10 points in November, reduced to six on appeal, before they received a second deduction to take their points loss to eight for breaching PSR. Nottingham Forest, were deducted four points, and have also appealed.

Premier League clubs had agreed in principle to introduce new financial rules next season, voting in April for squad cost ratio rules to replace PSR, which allows clubs to lose £105 million ($131.93m) in a three-season period.

Clubs will likely be limited to spending 85% of their revenue on transfers, wages and agents' fees if the new rules are adopted at the AGM in June.

PSR will still be in place next season with a transition period in 2024-25, as will points deductions, which will also remain part of the new rules once adopted.

- Reuters 

NOTTINGHAM FOREST STATEMENT

Getty

Nottingham Forest is extremely disappointed with the decision of the Commission to impose a sanction on the Club of four points, to be applied with immediate effect.  

Notwithstanding our disappointment, we thank the Commission for agreeing to deal with this matter on an expedited basis. The Club considers it to be essential for the integrity of the league to have charges resolved in the season in which they are issued.

We were extremely dismayed by the tone and content of the Premier League’s submissions before the Commission.  

After months of engagement with the Premier League, and exceptional cooperation throughout, this was unexpected and has harmed the trust and confidence we had in the Premier League. 

That the Premier League sought a sanction of eight points as a starting point was utterly disproportionate when compared to the nine points that their own rules prescribe for insolvency.

We were also surprised that the Premier League gave no consideration at all to the unique circumstances of the Club and its mitigation.  In circumstances where this approach is followed by future PSR commissions, it would make it extremely difficult, if not impossible, for newly promoted clubs without parachute payments to compete, thus undermining the integrity and competitiveness of the Premier League.

Whilst the Premier League may have called into question the Club’s business plan, the Club maintains that it responsibly balanced compliance with PSR with important investment into the squad to give us the ability to compete in the league for the first time in over 20 years.

Even after the Club had missed the PSR reporting deadline, it still took steps to ensure Brennan Johnson was sold before the end of the transfer window.  That was a clear demonstration of our respect and support for PSR.  

The Commission's decision raises issues of concern for all aspirant clubs. The player transfer market is a highly specialised trading environment that cannot be compared to the sale of normal products and services. 

There will be occasions when a player transfer cannot be completed in the first half of a transfer window and can only be completed at the end of that window.  This should not be a reason for the condemnation of a club.  For this not to be recognised by the Commission or the Premier League should be a matter of extreme concern for all fans of our national game.

Of wider concern for all aspirant clubs is the disturbing effect this decision will have on the operation of the player trading model. This is the only model by which clubs outside of the small group at the very top end of the Premier League can realistically advance up the football pyramid. 

The rationale of the Commission is that clubs should only invest after they have realised a profit on their player development. This reasoning destroys mobility in the football pyramid and the effect of the decision will be to drastically reduce the room for manoeuvre for all such clubs, leading to the stagnation of our national game.

We believe that the high levels of cooperation the Club has shown during this process, and which are confirmed and recorded in the Commission's decision, were not reciprocated by the Premier League.