Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has spoken candidly about some of the most pressing issues facing world football, in a wide-ranging interview with BBC Sports Editor Dan Roan recorded ahead of the 2026/27 Premier League season.

The FIFA crisis and World Cup ownership row

Masters addressed the fallout from FIFA president Gianni Infantino's controversial proposal to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors — a move that has sent shockwaves through the global game. The Premier League CEO made clear that the league is watching the situation closely as the debate over football's commercial future intensifies.

The conversation also touched on the departure of Kevin Lamour from FIFA, a development that has further fuelled uncertainty around the governing body's direction at a critical moment for the sport.

Masters also weighed in on the prospect of further World Cup expansion, a topic that continues to divide opinion among clubs, leagues, and national associations worldwide.

Manchester City's 115 charges

The long-running saga surrounding Manchester City's 115 alleged financial rule breaches also featured prominently. City face an independent commission hearing on charges spanning more than a decade, and the football world continues to wait for a ruling that could have seismic consequences for the club and the league's integrity framework.

Masters acknowledged the weight of the process, though the Premier League has consistently maintained that it operates an independent disciplinary structure.

Chelsea's fine and financial controls

Chelsea's punishment for breaching the Premier League's financial rules was another key topic. The club received a fine following an investigation into their financial conduct — the latest episode in a series of regulatory actions taken against clubs under the league's profit and sustainability rules.

Masters also discussed the league's squad cost ratio system — the spending controls introduced to bring greater financial discipline to club expenditure. The mechanism is designed to cap how much clubs can spend relative to their revenues, and its implementation remains a live issue as the new season begins.

A new era of managerial change

With nine managerial changes heading into the 2026/27 campaign, Masters reflected on whether the Premier League is entering a genuinely new era — one shaped by financial regulation, global governance battles, and a reshaping of the sport's power structures both on and off the pitch.