The Premier League appears to be trying to ensure investigations don’t take as long as the current Manchester City case.
Premier League clubs could negotiate settlements over alleged breaches of the league’s financial rules as early as next month.
According to Sky News, clubs will be asked to vote on this proposal at the league’s next annual meeting in June.
For the proposal to be passed, as with all votes in Premier League meetings, it would require at least 14 clubs to be in favour of the change. The English top flight is not expected to waste any time if it is approved, however, with implementation expected immediately.
Currently, when a team violates the league’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), which mandate clubs cannot lose more than £105m over three years, cases are referred to an independent commission.
The Premier League reportedly believes allowing clubs to negotiate settlements directly with the league would reduce the number of cases reaching an independent commission, thereby speeding up the process.
A source familiar with the matter has told Insider Sport that the rule is likely to only impact clubs from their next financial results.
The measure would also bring PSR breaches in line with other regulations, as it is currently the only rule that automatically goes straight to an independent commission rather than first being assessed by the board to determine whether referral is necessary.
Convenient timing for Manchester City?
When news of the proposed change broke, there were numerous comments made on social media referencing Manchester City.
The club is accused of breaching Financial Fair Play regulations between 2009 and 2018, with more than 100 alleged violations stacked against them.
Proceedings began in September 2024, and the league last provided an update in December 2024, when a three-person panel was appointed. Following the release of Manchester City’s financial results in December 2025, the club stated that the “independent commission is still in the process of reviewing the matter”.
Speaking to Insider Sport last year, football finance expert Kieran Maguire predicted a verdict is likely in the latter half of 2026. He said, regardless of the outcome, it will have ramifications for Manchester City and the Premier League itself.
This could be very relevant if the proposal is passed, as in theory it could allow cases to be removed from the independent commission process and enable Manchester City to negotiate its own punishment.
It is easy to see why this would benefit the Premier League, as it would bring an end to its longest-running investigation and could also help the league recover some or all of its legal costs.
More changes to the financial rules
This proposal could be the latest in a series of changes to the Premier League’s financial regulations, with clubs voting in November 2025 to replace PSR with a new framework known as Squad Cost Ratio (SCR).
Under the new rules, which are set to come into effect next season, clubs will only be allowed to spend up to 85% of their football-related revenue plus net profit or loss from player trading.
SCR will be assessed annually in March, with clubs exceeding the 85% threshold reviewed again after the season in June and October.
There is also some flexibility, as the league has introduced a “Red Threshold” of 115%, meaning spending can reach 115% of revenue before sporting sanctions apply. If spending is found to be between 85% and 115% during the March test, a club may face a financial fine, but not sporting sanctions such as a points deduction.
This mirrors UEFA’s financial regulations, under which clubs competing in European competitions must not exceed 70% of annual revenue on squad costs, with a higher 85% threshold applied to clubs not competing in UEFA tournaments.
