A legal challenge by Manchester City against Premier League rules will be heard next week, according to reports.
The Times reports an arbitration hearing will start on Monday over a claim made by Premier League champions City against the top flight’s associated party transaction (APT) regulations.
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The APTs are designed to ensure that all deals between a club and entities linked to that club’s owners are done at fair market value.
The Times reports that a 165-page claim was issued by lawyers representing City.
If the action is successful, the Times says it could assist City in the defence of their case against 115 Premier League charges laid in February 2023, because some of the charges relate to alleged attempts to disguise owner funding as sponsorship in breach of league rules. City deny any wrongdoing.
The Premier League and Manchester City declined to comment on the matter.
Clubs were told at a league shareholders’ meeting in February about a threat of legal action by one club – at the time reported to be City – against the APTs. That did not stop a majority of clubs voting to strengthen those rules at that meeting.
The Times reports that the other 19 Premier League clubs have been asked to join it in defence of its case against City.
According to the Times article, City’s lawyers argue the club are the victims of “discrimination against Gulf ownership” and that the rules make them subject to a “tyranny of the majority”.
City are owned by Sheikh Mansour, the deputy prime minister of Abu Dhabi.
"The Champions of the Premier League are basically suing the Premier League."
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) June 4, 2024
Kaveh Solhekol explains The Times' exclusive story that Manchester City are taking legal action against the Premier League 💼pic.twitter.com/KP4ULe3KNw
