Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham slams Premier League CEO Richard Masters for his REFUSAL to release minutes of Everton hearing into their 10-point penalty despite Parliament request… as the Toffees fan asks ‘what are they trying to hide’
- Masters appeared before the Culture, Media and Sport committee last month
- The Parliamentary Select Committee published its response to their requests
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Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has rejected Richard Master’s decision to reject Parliament’s request to release his witness statement to the independent commission, asking ‘what are they trying to hide’.
The Premier League chief executive had been asked by Dame Caroline Dinenage, the MP and chair of the DCMS committee, to provide minutes of the board meeting that gave Everton a 10-point deduction for financial breaches.
The Merseyside club broke the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules and last year received the heaviest penalty points in the history of the division.
In his response to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee’s request, Masters said Everton were given two months’ notice of their likely punishment and stressed that it is not their ‘practice’ to publish meeting minutes as they be a ‘private matter’. ‘.
However, Burnham, a Toffees supporter, responded to the league chief’s letter – which was made public on Friday – with a scathing rebuke, insisting this appeared to be the case for the introduction of a statutory regulator.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham responded to Richard Masters’ response to the DCMS committee’s request
Burnham asked what the Premier League was trying to hide after refusing to release minutes of the meeting
Premier League CEO Richard Masters has rejected a request to share his witness statement with the independent commission that awarded Everton a 10-point deduction last year
‘”…being a private company it is not our practice to provide or publish minutes of Premier League board meetings…” Burnham began, quoting Masters’ comments in a post on formerly Twitter.
“The (Premier League) couldn’t have made a better case for a statutory regulator of football if they had tried. What are they trying to hide?’
The Premier League chief executive had angered fans when he referred to ‘small clubs’ last month when discussing the spending of Everton and Nottingham Forest.
Masters responded to a question about fairness by pointing out that the rules are “standard guidelines for everyone – not just small clubs.”
He responded to the backlash he received for his comments in the aforementioned letter published by DCMS, refusing the apology and apparently insisting that what he said was not his intention.
The Toffees became embroiled in the relegation battle after breaching the Premier League’s winning and sustainability rules
Masters spoke of ‘small clubs’ when questioned before a parliamentary committee about Everton and Nottingham Forest’s spending breaches
“As I said in my testimony, Everton and Nottingham Forest are valued and respected members of the Premier League,” he said. “Both clubs have successful histories, strong and passionate fan bases and make important contributions not only to the vibrant Premier League competition, but also to their cities and local communities.
‘By reflecting the committee member’s question, it was not my intention to suggest otherwise. It would be incorrect to infer from this that there is unfair treatment based on club size, as suggested in the committee’s media statement.
‘The point I was making was indeed the opposite, in that the Premier League board applies the rules consistently regardless of the club in question.’
Everton appealed the 10-point deduction, and the verdict is likely to be announced next week. However, the club faces the prospect of further sanctions after being charged with a second offence.