Manchester City claim of ‘unfair’ Premier League treatment in latest legal case twist | OneFootball

Premier League champions Manchester City are claiming that they have been treated ‘unfairly’ by the top-flight in the assessment of their commercial income.

A 165-page legal document was first detailed by The Times newspaper, in which Manchester City claimed they are victims of “discrimination”, that the amended rules were approved by rivals to “stifle” their success on the pitch, and call it “a tyranny of the majority”.

The paper also reports that in addition to the challenge to the Premier League’s rulebook, Manchester City are also claiming damages and are understood to be supported by a number of clubs in the division who share their frustrations.

It was reported in June that at least three clubs, including Chelsea, Aston Villa, and Newcastle United, have sympathy for City’s position. The former are understood to be the only club thus far to provide a statement of support.

Now, according to the information of The Guardian’s Matt Hughes, it is revealed that City are claiming that the Premier League has treated them ‘unfairly’ in assessing their commercial income by relying on analysis from a data company that also works for their top-flight rivals.

The report details that the Premier League’s scrutiny of the fair market value of Manchester City’s deals was undertaken by Nielsen Sports, a global data and media valuation firm that has contracts with several top-flight clubs.

City are reported to have raised the Premier League’s use of Nielsen Sports in their legal battle over Associated Party Transactions, heard in private last month. For those awaiting an outcome, the report states a decision is expected soon, but it remains unknown as to when it will be made public.

The latest clash between Manchester City and the Premier League comes as the Etihad Stadium club are simultaneously preparing to lock horns with the top-flight in November, having been accused of 115 breaches of financial fair play rules.

The Premier League first charged Manchester City following a four-year investigation in February 2023, referring the club to an independent commission over alleged rule breaches between 2009 and 2018.

Having also accused City of not co-operating since the investigation started in December 2018, the Premier League champions of the last four seasons not only stated that they were “surprised” by the charges, but that they are also supported by a “body of irrefutable evidence”.