LONDON – A legal challenge by Manchester City against Premier League rules will be heard next week, according to media reports.
The Times reported that an arbitration hearing will start on Monday over a claim made by Premier League champions Manchester City against the top flight’s associated party transaction (APT) regulations.
The APTs were designed to ensure all deals between a club and entities linked to that club’s owners are done at fair market value.
A 165-page claim was issued by lawyers representing Manchester City, the report said.
If the action is successful, it could assist Manchester City in defending their case against 115 Premier League charges laid in February 2023, as some of the charges relate to alleged attempts to disguise owner funding as sponsorship, which is in breach of league rules.
Manchester City denied any wrongdoing on this matter.
Meanwhile, the Premier League declined to comment on the matter.
Manchester City have not yet responded to a request for comment when contacted by the PA news agency yesterday.
The agency believes clubs were told at a league shareholders’ meeting in February that one club – reported to be Manchester City – are threatening legal action against the APTs.
However, that did not stop a majority of clubs voting to strengthen the rules at that meeting.
The Times reported that the other 19 Premier League clubs have been asked to join to defend the case against Manchester City.
According to the Times article, Manchester City’s lawyers argue the club is the victim of “discrimination against Gulf ownership”. He also added that the rules make it subject to a “tyranny of the majority.”
Manchester City is owned by Sheikh Mansour, the deputy prime minister of Abu Dhabi. – June 5, 2024