Meet five EPL officials shaping Man City case

Manchester City chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak

Five senior officials on the Premier League board are set to play an important role in determining the possible punishment facing Manchester City following the club’s financial rule breaches.

The high-profile case, described by the Premier League as the most significant disciplinary matter in its history, has attracted widespread attention, with potential sanctions ranging from a financial penalty and points deduction to expulsion from the competition or the removal of previous titles.

Although an independent three-member commission will ultimately decide the appropriate punishment, the Premier League board is responsible for presenting its recommendations, alongside Manchester City’s position.

City have consistently maintained their innocence and are pursuing an appeal against the commission’s findings.

The Premier League board comprises five members: its chair, chief executive and three independent non-executive directors.

No club representatives sit on the board, a structure intended to ensure independence and neutrality in disciplinary matters.

As reported by BBC Sport on Wednesday, these are the Ffve senior officials on the Premier League board

Alison Brittain – Premier League Chair
Alison Brittain leads the Premier League board, having become the competition’s first female chair nearly four years ago.
With a background in hospitality and financial services, Brittain brought considerable corporate leadership and governance experience to the position despite having no previous professional background in football.
She was initially sceptical about joining the organisation but was persuaded after discussions with former Arsenal chief executive Vinai Venkatesham and former Aston Villa chief executive Christian Purslow.
Brittain has described maintaining competitive balance as a major responsibility of the Premier League, arguing that the competition’s appeal depends on ensuring that clubs remain capable of challenging one another.
She received unanimous support from the 20 Premier League clubs in 2025 to continue for another three-year term.

Richard Masters – Premier League Chief Executive

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Richard Masters has served as Premier League chief executive since 2019 and is one of the most recognisable figures in English football administration.
He has been closely involved in the league’s response to Manchester City’s financial case, previously defending the decision to pursue the club over alleged breaches of competition rules.
Following the independent commission’s findings, Masters said the decision vindicated the league’s decision to pursue the case.
He also stressed the importance of protecting the integrity of the competition, insisting that Premier League rules must be upheld to ensure fairness among clubs.
Masters has previously told a parliamentary committee that the league applies its rules consistently, regardless of the club involved.

Mai Fyfield – Independent Non-Executive Director
Mai Fyfield is another key member of the Premier League board, bringing extensive experience in media, broadcasting and commercial strategy.
She spent almost 20 years at Sky, where she served as chief strategy and commercial officer and played an important role in the company’s negotiations for Premier League television rights.
Her experience also includes board positions at several organisations, including BBC Commercial.
Fyfield’s background in commercial negotiations and corporate governance provides another important perspective within the Premier League’s leadership structure.

Dharmash Mistry – Independent Non-Executive Director
Dharmash Mistry brings experience in technology investment, business development and corporate finance.
He previously worked with Procter & Gamble and Boston Consulting Group before moving into the media industry and later becoming a technology venture capitalist.
He currently chairs the Premier League’s Audit and Finance Committee and represents the competition on the Football Association’s board.
His financial and business expertise could be particularly relevant as the league considers its position in a case centred on financial regulations and corporate accountability.

Matthew Ryder – Independent Non-Executive Director
Matthew Ryder completes the five-member board.
A senior barrister and part-time judge, Ryder has extensive experience in legal, regulatory and public affairs matters.
He previously served as Deputy Mayor of London, with responsibilities covering social mobility and community engagement.
Within the Premier League, Ryder chairs the Legal Advisory Group, making his legal background particularly relevant to the organisation’s handling of disciplinary matters.
He has also served on the board of the Scott Trust, which owns The Guardian newspaper.

Previous cases show differences over proposed punishments
Although Manchester City’s case is regarded as unprecedented in its scale, previous financial disciplinary cases involving Premier League clubs offer some insight into how recommendations can differ from final decisions.

In 2023, the Premier League sought a 12-point deduction for Everton following a breach of financial regulations. However, the independent commission initially imposed a 10-point penalty, which was subsequently reduced to six points on appeal.

Nottingham Forest also faced disciplinary action in 2024 after breaching Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

The Premier League argued for an eight-point deduction, but the independent commission settled on a four-point penalty.
More recently, Leicester City faced proceedings over an alleged overspend during the 2023-24 financial year. The Premier League argued that a 12-point deduction would be appropriate, while the independent commission recommended a six-point deduction to be imposed by the English Football League.

Chelsea also provides an example of a negotiated settlement. The club agreed to a £10m fine and a suspended transfer ban following an investigation into undisclosed payments involving unregistered agents and third parties between 2011 and 2018.
The Premier League identified Chelsea’s cooperation, admissions and proactive self-reporting as significant mitigating factors.