Man City Claims Legal Victory Over Premier League
Manchester City and the Premier League are involved in a legal dispute over new rules about “Associated Party Transactions” (APT). These rules are meant to control sponsorship deals from companies connected to the club’s owners.
Both City and the Premier League claim some success after a recent tribunal decision. Manchester City challenged the APT rules, saying they were unfairly stopped from securing two major sponsorship deals. A group of senior judges agreed with City on important points, declaring that some of the rules were “unlawful” and that City was treated unfairly in the process.
The tribunal specifically ruled that shareholder loans should not be excluded when calculating APTs and that City was wrongly denied the chance to respond to the Premier League’s decisions on what counts as fair sponsorship value. However, many of City’s other arguments were dismissed.
The Premier League pointed out that the tribunal upheld the general structure and purpose of the APT system, which is designed to promote financial fairness among clubs.
This legal battle is part of a larger ongoing conflict between Manchester City and the Premier League, which also includes an investigation into City’s alleged 115 breaches of financial rules. The APT regulations were introduced in February, with a close vote by Premier League clubs, aimed at stopping clubs from dodging financial controls by using sponsorships or deals with entities linked to their owners.
While the tribunal favored City on some points, it has deepened the tension between the club and the Premier League as their legal and financial fight continues.
