Man City fans aim unsubtle dig at Premier League CEO Richard Masters as legal war rumbles on… amid ‘feisty’ emergency meeting between top flight clubs over sponsorship rules

Manchester City fans planted a giant screen outside the Premier League’s HQ claiming that the competition’s chief executive is being controlled by some of their Big Six rivals – as the civil war between the pair rumbled on.

An emergency summit was held on Tuesday afternoon to try and find peace in City’s battle with the top-flight over sponsorship rules. 

However, execs from across the top flight had to walk past a flatbed truck which featured an LED board showing the badges of Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Spurs with the caption ‘Richard’s Masters’ – a not-so thinly-veiled dig at Premier League boss Richard Masters.

The van was parked on North Wharf Road in Paddington close to the entrance of the building where clubs attempted to thrash out next steps in what was described as a ‘feisty’ meeting where no timeline was given on a resolution to the sponsorship rules row. 

The group claiming responsibility, called The OSC, posted a picture of the elaborate protest, along with the caption: ‘A message to the Premier League from those of us outside the cartel. Stop governing on behalf of them and represent the league fairly and evenly. City, Everton, Forest, Newcastle, Chelsea, West Ham, Newcastle – who is next?’

They aimed an unsubtle dig at Premier League CEO Richard Masters

Man City chiefs have mounted a legal challenge against the Premier League’s sponsorship rules

Premier League CEO Masters (pictured) wants the matter dealt with ‘swiftly and effectively’ but there are now fears it could drag into 2025

Earlier this month a tribunal ruled that regulations over commercial deals with companies linked to owners of top-flight sides were ‘unlawful’ – after a challenge from City.

Insiders have disclosed that the Premier League attempted to stick to their guns in the summit after chief executive Masters told clubs in the aftermath of the hearing that they could make the necessary amendments ‘quickly and effectively’.

However, City’s legal counsel Simon Cliff – who responded to Masters’ summary by emailing all clubs to emphatically dismiss that notion – again pointed out that there could be no swift solution.

Views were sought from those present, with one source describing exchanges as ‘feisty’. Each club had two representatives. Some attended in person while others dialled in. At one stage, according to insiders, the Premier League representatives complained about the volume of work which would be required.

Clubs were told that their feedback would eventually be presented to those working on a solution to the three issues identified with the associated party transaction (APT) rules, including the need to include shareholder loans within the amended system. 

No date for a vote, which would be needed to bring in changes, was given. Instead, clubs were told that they would be issued with an update in due course. The meeting was scheduled for two hours but only lasted for around a half of that.

In special circumstances a vote can be rushed through, should the clubs be in agreement. However, normal practice is for a 21-day period of reflection after proposals are put forward before a vote is taken. 

Some believe what is a damaging episode for the top flight may now drag into the new year.

Meanwhile, the Premier League’s legal battle with City over their alleged 115 breaches of financial regulations, which is not connected to the above, continues.