Five people on the Premier League board are set to play a key part in the process that could determine Manchester City’s punishment following an independent commission’s finding that the club breached financial rules. City deny wrongdoing and have appealed, while the commission will make the final decision on any sanction after considering submissions from both sides, including the league’s recommendation.
The Premier League has not said when a sanctions hearing will take place or what punishment it will seek. Possible outcomes include a fine, a points deduction, expulsion from the league or the removal of past titles. The board is responsible for prosecuting breaches of the league’s rules and recommending punishments. It comprises the chair, chief executive and three independent non-executive directors, with no club representatives.
Chair Alison Brittain took up the role almost four years ago and received unanimous backing from the 20 clubs in 2025 to serve a second three-year term. Before joining the league, she held senior roles in hospitality and financial services. She has said that maintaining competitive balance is central to her job, arguing that the league’s appeal depends on the possibility of any team winning on any given day.
Chief executive Richard Masters has held the post since 2019. After the commission announced its core decision on City, he said it vindicated the league’s decision to pursue the case and stressed its responsibility to uphold rules approved by the clubs. He also said the remaining process, including the sanction, should move swiftly to provide certainty for clubs and fans.
The board’s three non-executive directors are Mai Fyfield, Dharmash Mistry and Matthew Ryder. Fyfield is a former Sky executive who worked on the company’s bids for three Premier League television cycles and now sits on the BBC Commercial board. Mistry is a technology investor and entrepreneur who chairs the league’s audit and finance committee and represents it on the Football Association board. Ryder is a barrister and part-time judge who chairs the Premier League’s legal advisory group.
The scale of the City case makes comparisons with earlier disciplinary proceedings uncertain. Past cases show that independent commissions have not always accepted the league board’s recommended penalties. The Premier League sought a 12-point deduction for Everton in 2023; the commission imposed 10 points, later reduced to six on appeal. In 2024, the league proposed an eight-point deduction for Nottingham Forest, but the commission imposed four. In Leicester City’s case, the league argued for a 12-point deduction in the Championship, while the commission recommended a six-point penalty to be imposed by the EFL.
A separate route was used in the Chelsea case earlier this year. The board agreed a settlement that included a £10 million fine and a suspended transfer ban after the club admitted making £47 million in undisclosed payments to unregistered agents and third parties between 2011 and 2018. The league said Chelsea’s self-reporting, admissions and cooperation were significant mitigating factors.
The Premier League declined to comment when BBC Sport approached the board members through the league.
Sources: BBC Sport.