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What Man City Premier League legal battle 'win' means for Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham

Manchester City corner flag at the Etihad Stadium
-Credit: (Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)


Manchester City's reported likely victory over the Premier League in regards to Associated Party Transaction (APT) rules, is not expected to have a direct impact on the separate and higher-profile 115 charges case. After taking the fight back to the top division earlier this year, City are now in two different battles.

The first one, which is thought to be nearing a conclusion, refers to the league's APT regulations. Their claim, submitted via a 165-page claim that the new laws - brought in from 2021 - discriminated against Gulf ownership.

Changes were made to financial rules in order to prevent clubs from recording inflated commercial deals stemming from companies linked to owners or other associated parties. The Times reports that clubs were due to vote on amendments to the database, which is used to submit these deals.

However, that vote has been removed, which some inside City are said to have taken as a significant indication that they will be victorious in their attempt to effectively deregulate Premier League interference in APTs.

Business of football writer Dave Powell explains that nothing has been finalised yet though, and that City still have two big cases to win here. “While the mention of Manchester City and legal challenges is likely to whip up plenty of interest, there remains no decision communicated on any rule change by the Premier League," he says. "With the rules remaining the same on the League’s website and no sign of any alterations to clauses.

“The argument from City in this case against the Premier League, which is separate from the independent commission hearing over the 115 charges that is currently ongoing, was that the rules around APT were unlawful and contrary to the Competition Act 1998. The rules have only been in situ since the Premier League and its member clubs reacted to the Newcastle United takeover by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF), with other clubs having raised concerns immediately due to fears of improving the ability to invest on the playing side through inflating revenues by entering into deals with associated companies.

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"In the case of the PIF, wealthy firms in the Gulf with whom the PIF were closely linked. The current piqued interest focuses on the removal of a vote on amendments to the APT rules, due to take place yesterday [Wednesday, September 25], that related to limiting access for clubs to data on the size of fellow Premier League members' commercial deals.

“While no decision has been communicated, the rather secretive nature of the Premier League and how it conducts its business means that City could well have been successful in an element of their appeal against APT rules."

Powell urges caution over possible sweeping conclusions from the latest update though, especially in attempting to relate it to the larger court hearing that remains ongoing. "It is unlikely to have more far-reaching implications when it comes to the independent commission and the 115 charges for alleged historical breaches of financial fair play rules," he adds. "Which did include allegations of inflating the value of deals.

“However, the more that City can make the case that the Premier League’s own rules at present are unfair and unlawful, they do have the potential to make that case to an independent panel when considering some of the wider aspects of the 115 charges. But should City achieve a victory against the Premier League over APT rules then it could open up the opportunity for clubs with wealthy owners who could leverage relationships with associated parties to a greater extent to draw in more in terms of revenue.

"Thus improving their ability to operate more freely in the transfer market despite financial controls that exist in the form of profit and sustainability rules (PSR). For now, though, no decision has been communicated so all that can exist is speculation.”