Aoba Tanaka 
Manchester City is gearing up for a significant legal confrontation with the Premier League next week, challenging the organization’s commercial rules. The arbitration hearing, set to take place from June 10 to June 21, will focus on the legality of the Premier League’s associated party transaction (APT) rules. These rules are crucial as they determine whether sponsorship deals are financially fair.
Earlier this year, BBC Sport reported that the Premier League was facing potential legal action over changes to its rules. It has now been revealed to the remaining Premier League clubs that Manchester City is the club initiating this legal challenge. The league has offered the other 19 clubs the opportunity to submit witness statements as part of the case.
While both the Premier League and Manchester City have not commented on the ongoing case, The Times has accessed a 165-page legal document from City. In it, the club claims they are victims of “discrimination,” alleging that the amended rules were designed by rival clubs to “stifle” their success on the pitch. City has referred to this as “a tyranny of the majority.”
This legal battle adds another layer of complexity to City’s current situation, as the club faces over 100 charges from a Premier League disciplinary commission for breaching financial regulations, some dating back to 2009. Notably, some of these charges involve amounts paid to City by sponsors linked to Abu Dhabi.
The Premier League’s new rules around sponsorship deals, agreed upon by at least 14 clubs, were implemented earlier this year. The league stated that these rules would “enhance the efficiency and accuracy of the system.” However, City’s legal challenge disputes these claims and seeks damages in addition to questioning the rules’ fairness.
This legal clash comes at a pivotal moment, just months after Manchester City made history by becoming the first club to win the Premier League title for four consecutive seasons. The outcome of this hearing could have significant implications for the club’s future and the broader landscape of Premier League regulations.
As the hearing approaches, the football world will be watching closely, not only to see the outcome but also to understand its impact on the governance and commercial operations within the Premier League.
#mancity #manchester #city #footballnews #football #news #sportznews #newssportz #legal #action
