Former Manchester City chairman David Bernstein has launched a blistering attack on the Premier League, claiming the champions’ £440million summer spending spree “makes a mockery” of its financial regulation.
City began another season without a verdict in their long-running case concerning 115 alleged breaches of the competition’s financial rules.
The allegations were announced in February 2023 before a 12-week hearing concluded in December 2024. However, the independent commission considering the hugely complex case has still not published its decision.
City strenuously deny any wrongdoing. The eventual verdict could clear the club of the allegations or expose them to potentially significant historic sanctions.
Bernstein, who served as City chairman between 1998 and 2003 before becoming Football Association chairman, has now questioned why the case was allowed to become so extensive.
His criticism followed a transformative summer at the Etihad Stadium, with City spending approximately £440m following the departure of long-serving manager Pep Guardiola.
Their recruitment included the British-record £125m signing of Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea, as well as Elliot Anderson for £116m, Ayyoub Bouaddi for £86m and Iliman Ndiaye for £60m.
Goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli and Brazilian midfielder Allan also arrived as part of the rebuild being overseen by new manager Enzo Maresca.
Former Manchester City chairman David Bernstein has launched a blistering attack on the Premier League, claiming the champions’ £440million summer spending spree “makes a mockery” of its financial regulation
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Writing in The Sunday Times, Bernstein said: “The fact they have done this against the background of the 115 Premier League charges is extraordinary and makes a mockery of regulation in England’s top division, supposedly the best-run league in the world.
“Why the league decided to prosecute all 115 alleged offences is a mystery to me.
“Surely common sense, often in short supply, would point to simplifying the process by taking a handful of the bigger, clearer issues and pursuing these as specimen cases.
“Justice delayed is justice denied, and the longer this process is drawn out, the more the resulting implications and challenges are compounded.”
The 2026-27 campaign is the fourth season to have started since the charges against City were announced.
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has acknowledged that the verdict has taken longer to arrive than originally anticipated, but insists he cannot provide updates about its timing or substance
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GETTYPremier League chief executive Richard Masters has acknowledged that the verdict has taken longer to arrive than originally anticipated, but insists he cannot provide updates about its timing or substance.
“The process is the process,” Masters previously said. “It will resolve itself. But as you know, I literally can’t say a thing about it.
“There’s only one available option, which is to allow the process to reach its natural conclusion.
“I can’t talk about the substance of the case. I can’t talk about the timing of the case. Our rules are very clear about that.
“I understand that people are frustrated, but it will take as long as it takes.”
Four Premier League clubs have reportedly reserved the right to pursue compensation should City ultimately be found guilty.
Despite growing public frustration, Masters recently suggested the unresolved case was not dominating his private conversations with top-flight clubs.
“I obviously speak to clubs all the time,” he said last month.
“It’s not necessarily a topic of conversation that is top of the list.
“There are lots of other things to talk about and do. The Premier League moves on.”
Manchester City have won all three of their Premier League matches so far this season
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The saga comes during a period in which financial regulation and legal disputes have increasingly shaped the English game.
Everton, Nottingham Forest and Leicester City have all been punished with points deductions in recent seasons, while Chelsea received a £10m fine over historic payments.
The Premier League’s latest domestic broadcasting agreement has also resulted in the value paid per match falling by approximately £2.5m, prompting questions over whether repeated legal battles could be affecting the competition’s appeal.
Masters rejected suggestions that the two issues were directly connected but admitted litigation should be avoided whenever possible.
“I don’t think litigation and broadcast deals are necessarily associated,” he said.
“I do think litigation is to be avoided. It should be a last resort within a league system or generally.
“I think that is generally the attitude that is taken by stakeholders in the game. Litigation is a last resort.”
City, meanwhile, have refused to allow the uncertainty to affect their performances under Maresca.
The reigning champions sit top of the Premier League after taking maximum points from their opening three fixtures.
Their perfect start continued with a tense 1-0 victory over newly promoted Coventry City on Saturday, secured by Erling Haaland’s third goal of the campaign. Fernandez and Ndiaye made their City debuts during that victory, further underlining the remarkable strength Maresca now has at his disposal.
