The Premier League is under mounting pressure from clubs as its running costs continue to skyrocket, with legal bills approaching £100 million over the past two years.
According to fresh figures seen by the Telegraph, central outgoings have risen by 30 percent over the past five years, far outpacing revenue growth of just 4%.
Legal fees are the primary bone of contention, having soared by a jaw-dropping 325% from £11.3 million in 2022/23 to £48.1m the following year, before dipping slightly to £44.6m in 2024/25.
A considerable chunk of these fees went towards the 115 charges levelled and the sponsorship battle with Manchester City.
The Premier League also had cases involving Nottingham Forest and Everton after issuing points deductions.
However, Premier League clubs are alarmed that costs in other operational areas are also climbing.
Central spending on staffing and administration has increased 18% to £96.8m, while policy costs rose by 29% over five years.
Some executives say that the inflation in central costs is making it harder for them to comply with financial rules.
“The rate at which the league’s central costs are rising is a real cause for concern,” one club official said.
“Every penny more the league spends on bureaucracy comes straight off clubs’ top-line revenue.”
Others argue there is a blinkered obsession with building the league’s organisation rather than driving club revenues.
League chief executive Richard Masters and his team note that budgets are reviewed by the Audit and Finance Committee, which includes club representatives, and approved by shareholders.
They also stress that, despite higher costs, the Premier League has exceeded expectations in terms of distributions.
The Premier League spent an average of £28m per season in additional payments to clubs over the past five years.
Supporters of the strategy believe the investment is necessary to maintain long-term global growth, while critics calculate clubs are missing out on around £1m each year as a result.
With legal battles expected to ease in the coming seasons, focus will turn to whether the league can rein in other operational expenses while still delivering on its expansion plans.
