RICHARD MASTERS was watched closely during this morning’s Culture, Media and Sport committee meeting.
The Premier League chief executive spoke just a day on from Everton and Nottingham Forest being charged for allegedly breaching financial rules.
Everton fan Julie Clarke was sat behind Richard Masters
Masters sat next to EFL chairman Rick Parry at the meeting.
He said: “It is fans that matter – without fans we don’t have a game.”
Everton were handed a ten-point deduction after being charged earlier this season.
The Toffees, who have already launched an appeal against their previous charge, could be slapped with another six-point deduction.
Sat behind Masters at today’s committee meeting was Everton fan Julie Clarke.
A lifelong Evertonian, Clarke sits on the club’s Fan Advisory Board.
Wearing a T-shirt prominently featuring Everton’s badge, she could be seen watching over Masters at the meeting… to fellow fans’ delight.
One wrote on social media: “A picture tells a thousand words.”
While a second commented: “Loving this lady!”
Others took issue with Masters’ comments.
A disgruntled supporter posted: “You don’t even think about the fans. It’s money orientated.”
Another added: “He is actually just taking the p*** out of us now.”
Masters also said: “We take our rule book very seriously, clubs expect us to take action if they don’t comply with the rules.”
Everton released a strong statement on Monday following their latest charge, concluding: “The Club must now defend another Premier League complaint which includes the very same financial periods for which it has already been sanctioned, before that appeal has even been heard.
“The Club takes the view that this results from a clear deficiency in the Premier League’s rules.
“Everton can assure its fans that it will continue to defend its position during the ongoing appeal and, should it be required to do so, at any future commission – and that the impact on supporters will be reflected as part of that process.”
Forest, also potentially facing a six-point deduction, wrote in their own statement: “Nottingham Forest acknowledges the statement from the Premier League confirming that the club has today been charged with a breach of the league’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules.
“The club intends to continue to cooperate fully with the Premier League on this matter and are confident of a speedy and fair resolution.”