The Premier League has decided to delay the introduction of new financial rules that would limit clubs' spending on players. The current profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) will remain in place for the upcoming season, despite earlier intentions to approve the new squad cost ratio (SCR) system before the end of this campaign.
At a shareholders' meeting in London, clubs expressed near-unanimous support for the SCR approach, which would restrict player-related spending to a set percentage of income. However, they agreed to continue the system in trial form for now, meaning PSR will likely persist for another year amid controversies last season when Everton and Nottingham Forest were deducted points.
The delay comes as the league faces multiple legal challenges. Manchester City have initiated a second legal action against rules on associated party transactions, while the Professional Footballers' Association has warned of potential litigation over insufficient consultation on SCR and related 'anchoring' proposals, which would tie top clubs' spending to the revenues of the league's last-placed team.
Although legal fees were not discussed at the meeting, concerns had previously been raised after the league disclosed legal costs of £45 million last season—six times greater than the proposed budget. The league will now draft a collective position on financial sustainability, seen as a direct response to the proposed Independent Football Regulator, whose primary duty is to promote financial stability in English football.
Separately, the Premier League, Football Association, and referees' body PGMOL confirmed that semi-automated offside technology will be trialled in the fifth round of the FA Cup next month. The system uses optical player tracking to place the virtual offside line more efficiently and produce enhanced graphics for in-stadium and broadcast viewers. It does not change decision accuracy but aims to speed up the process, with a view to introducing it in league matches before the end of the season.
