Former Manchester City chairman says 115-charge delay ‘makes a mockery’ of Premier League

Former Manchester City chairman David Bernstein says the Premier League’s failure to resolve the club’s 115 alleged financial rule breaches has been made more damaging by the £440m the club spent in the summer transfer window.

Bernstein, who chaired Manchester City from 1998 to 2003 and later led the Football Association between 2011 and 2013, criticised the length of time taken to reach a decision and questioned how the Premier League has handled the case.

Writing in the Sunday Times, the 83-year-old said the club’s continuing spending while the charges remain unresolved was “extraordinary” and “makes a mockery” of the league’s regulatory system.

“For them to do this (spending in the market) against the background of the 115 charges is extraordinary, and makes a mockery of the regulation in England’s top league, which is supposed to be the best-run in the world,” Bernstein wrote.

Manchester City were charged in February 2023 with 115 alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules. The charges cover a period beginning in 2009 and relate to the club’s financial reporting, revenue, remuneration and cooperation with the league’s investigation.

The independent hearing, which lasted 12 weeks, concluded in December 2024. However, the commission has yet to publish its verdict. The case is understood to be highly complex, and Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has acknowledged that the decision has taken “longer than expected”.

Manchester City strongly deny all the allegations. The outcome could clear the club of wrongdoing or result in historic sanctions if some or all of the charges are upheld.

Bernstein has joined a growing group of critics who have expressed concern about the delay. He also questioned why the Premier League chose to pursue all 115 charges rather than focusing on a smaller number of what he described as the clearest and most significant cases.

“Why did the league decide to pursue all 115 charges? That is a mystery to me,” he added. “Common sense, which is often in short supply, would have suggested simplifying the process by taking a handful of the biggest and clearest cases and pursuing them as test cases.

“Justice delayed is justice denied, and the longer this process goes on, the more complicated its consequences and challenges become.”

City’s spending has continued during the unresolved proceedings, adding to the debate over the impact of the delay on both the club and the Premier League. Bernstein’s comments suggest that the lack of a ruling is undermining confidence in the competition’s regulatory framework, particularly while the club remains free to operate in the transfer market.

Manchester City currently sit top of the Premier League after winning all three of their opening matches. They are managed by Italian coach Enzo Maresca, and their most recent result was a 1-0 victory over newly promoted Coventry City on Saturday.

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