Arsenal given huge Man City 115 charges hope as Premier League win legal case with club support

Manchester City have been unsuccessful in the first of their two massive legal cases against the Premier League. After taking the fight back earlier this year, one high-profile outcome has been confirmed.

Relating this time to Associated Party Transactions (APTs) - when companies with ties to an ownership group are involved in commercial or sponsorship deals with a club - City had their attempts to prove the rules unlawful fall almost entirely flat. Just two months ago they tried to claim a serious victory after an independent panel's findings.

Whilst the league said that the rules had not been deemed against competiton law and therefore City's case had failed, the reigning champions likewise took glee from changes being needed immediately. That is what lead to Friday's vote.

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All 20 clubs cast their stance on whether or not amendments to current APT regulations should be passed, with the result leaving City firmly on the back foot. In the build up, City and Aston Villa had hoped to delay the vote in a bid to strengthen their argument.

As it happens, new APT rules will be put in place and City's allegations that they are not fit for purpose - and totally illegal - has been knocked away. This is just half, if that, of the bigger picture, though.

Whilst the APT case has been brought about, heard, gazed upon, and now voted on by clubs, the ongoing 115 charges trial remains a murky backdrop to another Premier League season. It is coming up to two years since a half-decade long investigation suggested City be called out for alleged financial crimes, and the landscape is still not clear.

The trial is happening and most remain none the wiser to what is going on regardless of how siesmic is could prove to be. The fact that just where an outcome is on the horizon, even if it is initial and before likely appeal, is unclear, does not help.

It is easy, on the outside, to see City's defeat here as the start of their collapse. In reality, the two cases are entirely different. There are only a few marginal overlaps between them.

APT rules and the ability to effectively artificially boost commercial revenue and sponsorship deals are part of the wider 115 charges case but they are not, by any means, the be all and end all. Instead, the Premier League is accusing City of fundamentally cheating to enhance their financial position across a decade under the Abu Dhabi-based owners.

This remains the state of play regardless of whether APT rules are deemed lawful or not. The complications and controversy - which will follow the eventual hearing at some stage either way - will still be present with or without APT regulations.

The Premier League has taken this round, so to speak, with Arsenal, Chelsea, and Tottenham all choosing to go against City (plus Aston Villa). It is a one-on-one battle in court for the 115 charges, though, and that does not change.