Aston Villa owner releases statement supporting Man City amid Premier League showdown

Aston Villa owner Nassef Sawiris has joined Manchester City in calling for a vote on Premier League financial rules to be postponed for a later date.

Clubs are currently set to cast their ballot on proposed changes to the division's Associated Party Transaction rules [APTs] on Friday. An independent commission in October judged that certain elements of the frame-work breached EU competition law, while acknowledging the need for such regulation.

City appear to have sent a letter to their Premier League counterparts - in which senior lawyer Simon Cliff says the scheduled amendments are still 'not lawful' and accuses the Premier League of rushing through the changes.

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The commission had ruled that it was unlawful for shareholder loans to be omitted from spending limits, given that sponsorship deals between standalone companies connected with a club's owners were also subject to 'fair market value' tests.

Going forward, such loans from owners will now need to be factored into spending limits and will incur an interest charge. The top-flight is apparently proposing not to impose retrospective interest charges on to previously-agreed shareholder loans made prior to the amendments.

City claim this is illegal given the ruling of the commission. And, now, Villa chief Sawiris says his club 'will be voting against the proposed APT Rules' like the Premier League champions.

The 63-year-old, who is Egypt's richest man, has called for Friday's vote to be postponed for another three months so the Premier League can then show 'a united front' in the face of a football regulator - by reaching an unanimous verdict on the APT rules.

In a statement - according to The Telegraph - Sawiris said: "In our view, a vote in 90 days on amended terms taking into consideration the Tribunal's findings will have a significantly greater chance of securing the unanimous support of all 20 Premier League clubs.

"Crucially, a unanimous vote will present a fresh start for an embattled Premier League that began with the failed attempt to launch a [European] Super League in 2021.

"With the imminent arrival of the Government's Independent Football Regulator, it is more important than ever that the Premier League can present itself to the regulator with a united front. In our view, that will be far more easily achieved if the APT vote is held in February and supported unanimously by all clubs."

He went on: "It is noteworthy that legal bills to date on this matter have already reached astronomical amounts; further challenges and escalation of these fees could be avoided through reaching consensus.

"Ultimately, a unanimous vote will showcase the emergence of a new era of clubs - who can compete vigorously on the pitch but work together to strengthen the Premier League and its global appeal."