Premier League chief Richard Masters has reportedly pulled out of broadcast talks(Image: PA)

Richard Masters 'pulls out' of broadcast meeting ahead of crunch talks after Man City verdict

Richard Masters reportedly snubbed a broadcast at luxury golf club to prepare for emergency meeting with all 20 Premier League clubs

09 Oct 2024, 20:53 by Bruna Reis · football.london

Premier League chief Richard Masters has reportedly declined to attend an event with broadcasting executives to focus on the emergency meeting with all 20 Premier League clubs amid the legal battle with Manchester City, according to reports.

Masters was due to meet up with chiefs from Sky Sports and staff from NBC at the luxurious Loch Lomond Golf Club in Scotland on Wednesday morning, according to the Daily Mail. However, due to the ongoing top-flight legal battle with City over sponsorship rules, Masters decided to withdraw in order to discuss the agenda for next Thursday (October 17), it is claimed.

Former Premier League chief Richard Scudamore attended the event along with Sky Sports director of football Gary Hughes, but it has been insisted the former was not a replacement for Masters and that he was always going to attend. Scudamore left his position with the Premier League in 2018 after a tenure that lasted almost 20 years.

Masters' absence at the high-level event with important broadcasters who contribute billions into the Premier League's revenues will have been the result of a key decision. Sky, the Premier League's main broadcast partners, have a £6.7billion deal along with TNT and the BBC. NBC - who like Sky are owned by American giants Comcast - who also broadcast the Premier League in America will continue to do so until 2028 - which will mark a 15-year partnership.

Masters would have spent his time preparing for the emergency meeting with all 20 clubs after City's legal battle came to an end. It will take place next Thursday, though no venue is thought to have yet been shared with the Premier League's clubs.

City claimed victory over the Premier League after a ruling on commercial deals with organisations related to owners. An independent panel stated the rules were unlawful.

Masters meanwhile, downplayed any talk of a City victory and claimed the panel had 'identified a small number of discrete elements…which do not, in current form, comply with competition and public law requirements' before adding that changes could be 'quickly and effectively be remedied', reports the Mail.

"The Premier League welcomes the Tribunal’s findings, which endorsed the overall objectives, framework and decision-making of the APT system," a Premier League statement said. "The Tribunal upheld the need for the APT system as a whole and rejected the majority of Manchester City’s challenges. Moreover, the Tribunal found that the Rules are necessary in order for the League’s financial controls to be effective.

"The decision represents an important and detailed assessment of the APT Rules, which ensure clubs are not able to benefit from commercial deals or reductions in costs that are not at Fair Market Value (FMV) by virtue of relationships with Associated Parties. These Rules were introduced to provide a robust mechanism to safeguard the financial stability, integrity and competitive balance of the League.

"The Tribunal did, however, identify a small number of discrete elements of the Rules which do not, in their current form, comply with competition and public law requirements (more information below). These elements can quickly and effectively be remedied by the League and clubs.

"In the meantime, the Premier League will continue to operate the existing APT system, taking into account the findings made by the Tribunal.

"While the Arbitration process is confidential, the Premier League and the Club have agreed to make public a redacted copy of the decision, withholding only confidential and commercially sensitive information. "

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