The legal battle between Manchester City and the Premier League is heating up, and now, Oasis legend Noel Gallagher has entered the fray, calling for Premier League CEO Richard Masters to be sacked.
Gallagher, a die-hard Manchester City fan, has signed a petition demanding Masters step down amid the ongoing dispute over City’s alleged breaches of financial regulations. City are facing 115 charges from the Premier League, with accusations of violating financial rules over several years. While the charges originated during Richard Scudamore’s time as chief executive, it’s Masters who has become the focus of Gallagher’s ire.
The Oasis star reportedly signed the petition with a damning message accusing Masters of being “a mouthpiece for the red cartel,” referring to the league’s alleged favoritism toward certain clubs. Gallagher’s account further claimed that Masters targets City and other clubs shaping the future of English football, while protecting those “trapped in the past.”
This all comes as City and the Premier League clashed over recent tribunal rulings regarding commercial deals. While the Premier League claimed victory, stating their associated party transaction (APT) rules had been largely upheld, City’s legal counsel fired back, accusing the league of spreading misinformation.
In an email to all Premier League clubs, City’s general counsel, Simon Cliff, argued that the Premier League’s summary of the tribunal’s findings was misleading. Cliff warned that a rushed response to the situation could lead to more legal battles and urged clubs to trust the regulator.
Masters, who took over as Premier League CEO in 2019, is now facing pressure from City supporters following this ongoing saga. Club representatives will meet soon to discuss the fallout from the tribunal and how to proceed. Meanwhile, Gallagher’s intervention has only added fuel to an already heated dispute, as the legal and public relations battle between City and the Premier League continues.
As the Premier League pushes back against City’s accusations, the league released a statement asserting that the tribunal’s findings support their overall framework and financial control system. They claim most of City’s challenges were rejected and reaffirmed the necessity of the APT system to ensure effective financial governance in the league.
