Prem Chief Richard Masters: No 'happy alternative' to enforcing rules

Richard Masters accepts the legal cases facing Premier League champions Manchester City and others create "uncertainty and frustration" heading into the new season but said: "There is no happy alternative to enforcing the rules."

An independent commission is set to rule on the 115 charges facing City at some stage during the season ahead, with The Times reporting on Monday that the hearing could begin as early as mid-September.

There are also cases outstanding involving Leicester and Everton related to alleged breaches of the league's profitability and sustainability rules (PSR), while the league is also understood to be investigating Chelsea over possible rule breaches that took place under their former owner Roman Abramovich.

Asked about the significance of all these matters and whether they were a big issue for the league, its chief executive Masters told Sky Sports: "It does matter, and I understand it creates uncertainty and some frustration but there is no happy alternative to enforcing the rules, which everyone has agreed at the beginning of each season.

"They have looked each other in the eye and shaken each other’s hand and said 'we will abide by these rules’. So the Premier League has to enforce rules.

"Whatever difficulty or frustration that creates is part of maintaining and protecting the Premier League’s competition, its core values, competitive competition. And that’s really my role, and that’s what I want to continue doing."

City have won two league titles since the charges, which they vehemently deny, were laid in February last year.

"I think it does need to be resolved," Masters said, as he again refused to be drawn on any timescales related to that case.

"It’s not in our hands. It’s in the hands of an