The Premier League have introduced new rules to fast-track financial disciplinary cases and it could have a significant impact on Manchester United and Chelsea.
The new regulations mean that the process for a club charged with a standard financial breach must be dealt with within a 12-week period to ensure any point deductions apply to the season in which an offence takes place.
According to the Premier League, only the “most exceptional cases” will not be dealt with by the new deadline – such as Manchester City’s multiple rule breach which included 115 charges.
The rules mean any top-flight club that breaks the league's profit and sustainability rules (PSR), which restrict losses over three seasons to £105 million, will be punished before the end of the season.The change comes after Everton's alleged FFP breaches were not dealt with last season, sparking complaints from Leeds United, Southampton, Leicester City and Nottingham Forest.
Instead, the charges will go before the league’s independent commission at on October 25. In light of that decision, the Premier League decided in June that a 12-week deadline should be imposed for similar scenarios in the future.
Meanwhile, The Times state that "football finance experts believe Chelsea and Manchester United could be sailing close to the wind, and therefore might be burnt by the league's new regulations.The new rules, as stated in the Premier League’s 2023-24 handbook read: “These standard directions have been agreed by clubs to ensure that any complaint regarding a breach of the Profitability and Sustainability Rules can be resolved, including any appeal, as expeditiously as possible and, absent exceptional circumstances, prior to June 1 following the submission of the relevant club’s annual accounts.
“The League and clubs recognise and agree that, given the possibility of the imposition of a sporting sanction in the form of a points deduction on any club found to be in breach of rules E.47 to E.52 and the desirability (so as to protect the interests of other clubs) of any such points deduction taking effect in the season in which the relevant club’s annual accounts are submitted, it is important that clarity is reached regarding any such sanction prior to the subsequent Annual General Meeting.
“This provides certainty for the league, its member clubs and other stakeholders as to the membership of the league in the subsequent season.”
