Legal action from players and clubs against the Premier League is “inevitable” if a salary cap is introduced, according to the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) chief executive.
Discussions over the controversial introduction of new financial regulations continue and a decision over replacing profit and sustainability rules (PSR) with “squad cost ratios” and “top-to-bottom anchoring” (TBA) will take place next week.
“Squad cost ratios” would restrict Premier League clubs’ spending power, not allowing them to spend more than 85% of their yearly revenue. “Top-to-bottom anchoring” would result in a cap on total expenditure, including player wages, agents’ fees and transfer fees, and ensure clubs can only spend five times the income earned by the bottom club in the league via broadcasting and prize money.
According to , the PFA will hold talks with the captains of all 20 Premier League clubs next week ahead of a decisive vote on Nov. 21. Manchester City and Manchester United are among the teams known to oppose the introduction of TBA, while Arsenal were one of 16 clubs who voted in favour of exploring the new system during a vote in 2024.
Based on the 2023–24 season in which Sheffield United were the Premier League’s bottom club, spending would be limited to £550 million ($723.7 million) for all teams in the division, with some clubs already in breach of the potential new rules. They would therefore be forced to lower their spend should TBA come into effect.
However, the PFA have threatened legal action against the Premier League should fresh financial restrictions come into play, with a number of senior players and agents already opposed to the introduction of a salary cap and TBA.
