Manchester City appears to have scored a significant legal win in their ongoing battle with the Premier League over the controversial Associated Party Transaction (APT) rules, according to recent reports.
Earlier this year, City launched a detailed 165-page claim against the Premier League, arguing that the APT rules unfairly targeted Gulf-owned clubs, specifically citing “discrimination” against their ownership structure. The reigning English champions suggested that the regulations were designed by rival clubs to limit their dominance, calling it a “tyranny of the majority.”
The APT rules, which were introduced in December 2021 after Newcastle United was taken over by Saudi Arabia’s Private Investment Fund, are intended to ensure fair play in the Premier League by preventing clubs from signing overly favorable commercial deals with businesses linked to their owners. To maintain competitiveness, all transactions must be independently assessed to ensure they reflect fair market value.
However, in a potential breakthrough for City, The Time reported that Premier League clubs were set to vote on changes to a databank that tracks commercial contracts. These amendments could have restricted access to sensitive financial information, preventing clubs from viewing the commercial dealings of their rivals.
Interestingly, the vote was abruptly pulled from the agenda, a move that some believe suggests City’s legal team made headway in persuading the independent panel overseeing the case that the APT rules on sponsorship require revision.
It’s important to note that this case specifically addresses City’s challenge to the APT rules and does not involve the separate ongoing investigation into the 115 charges brought against the club by the Premier League in February 2023.
As of now, Manchester City has declined to comment on these developments.
