Dave Kelly, Chair of the Everton Fan Advisory Board, has written to the Chair of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee raising his concerns over comments made by the Chief Executive of the Premier League, Richard Masters, at a parliamentary hearing today regarding punishments for spending breaches.
In the hearing, before which Masters and English Football League Chair, Rick Parry, appeared, Masters was asked by Rupa Huq, MP for Ealing Central and Action, about the transparency of the process by which top-flight clubs are sanctioned for breaching Profitability and Sustainability rules (PSR).
Masters explained that the Premier League has an “open sanction regime and that is an active decision to leave it to the independent panel to decide [on the level of punishment]. Whilst that may not be clear, we believe it is the fairest way to do it.”
In his letter to Dame Caroline Dineage, Kelly argues that the assertion by Masters “directly contradicts the Premier League Commission report findings published on 17 November 2023, which stated that the Premier League adopted a sanctions policy at its Board meeting on 10 August 2023, and indeed subsequently presented that sanctions policy to the Commission as part of Mr Masters’ witness statement.”
Everton were deducted 10 points based on a ruling by an October 2023 independent commission that found the club to be in breach of PSR. That penalty is being appealed and today’s Select Committee used part of today’s hearing to ask Masters if a sanction, widely regarded as overly harsh, was part of an attempt by the Premier League to head off independent regulation.
The League Chair rejected the suggestion.
Dave Kelly’s letter in full:
Dear Ms Dinenage,
I’m writing to you today on behalf of the Everton Fan Advisory Board to follow up on today’s Select Committee hearing about football governance at which you took evidence from Richard Masters, Chief Executive of the Premier League and Rick Parry, Chair of the English Football League.
First, I would like to thank you and committee members for continuing to bring scrutiny and oversight about the way in which football is governed and agree with your concluding remarks about the importance of the Football Governance Bill and an Independent Regulator being introduced as soon as possible.
The reason for writing to you, however, is in relation to comments made by Mr Masters about the Premier League’s approach to the sanctions policy applied to Everton Football Club. When questioned about the transparency of this by Rupa Huq MP, Mr Masters explained that the Premier League has an “open sanction regime and that is an active decision to leave it to the independent panel to decide.” He went on to say that “whilst that may not be clear, we believe it is the fairest way to do it.”
This directly contradicts the Premier League Commission report findings published on 17 November 2023, which stated that the Premier League adopted a sanctions policy at its Board meeting on 10 August 2023, and indeed subsequently presented that sanctions policy to the Commission as part of Mr Masters’ witness statement (see paras 86-90 of the Premier League Commission, attached).
Despite repeated requests, [neither] the minutes of the meeting at which that policy was agreed, nor the policy itself have ever been published.
Not only does this call into question the lack of clarity, transparency, and consistency in the Premier League’s approach – all of which are guiding principles for effective regulation – it also demonstrates an apparent inconsistency in the evidence provided by Mr Masters today to that he provided to the Premier League Commission.
I am sure your committee will take the earliest opportunity in inviting Mr Masters to clarify his remarks.
Finally, one of the key themes from today was the importance of ensuring that supporter perspectives are central to any reform to football governance. We welcome the work of the Football Supporters’ Association in providing this alongside the work of many fan representative groups up and down the country. As your committee continues to provide scrutiny on this issue as the Football Governance Bill passes through Parliament, we would kindly encourage you to ensure that your committee takes the opportunity to hear directly from individual fan groups and representatives – so that every effort can be made to ensure that the rhetoric of giving fan’s a voice becomes reality.
The Everton Fan Advisory Board would be happy to contribute to any future session or call for evidence. I will write to you separately about this.
Yours sincerely
Dave Kelly
Chair, Everton Fan Advisory Board