Manchester City secure legal victory over Premier League in associated party transaction rules battle | OneFootball

Manchester City appeared to have secured a legal victory over the Premier League in their challenge of the division’s associated party transaction rules.

It was widely reported back in June that Manchester City were due to face the Premier League in a legal battle over the organisation’s commercial rules, with an arbitration hearing scheduled surrounding the legality of the league’s associated party transaction (APT) rules.

The Premier League had reportedly offered the remaining 19 members and clubs within the division the opportunity to make witness statements as part of the case, while neither the division nor Manchester City responded to requests for comment at the time.

An additional report from The Times newspaper claimed at the time that they had seen a 165-page legal document in which Manchester City stated they were the victims of “discrimination”, and that the amended rules were approved by rivals to “stifle” their success on the pitch, calling it “a tyranny of the majority”.

In addition to the challenge to the rules, Manchester City were also claimed to be seeking damages, as per the same report from The Times.

Now, in a major development for all concerned, particularly Manchester City and their future legal hopes regarding the ongoing hearing concerning their 115 charges of alleged Premier League financial rule breaches, an outcome has emerged concerning APT rules.

According to the information of MailSport’s Mike Keegan, reigning English top-flight champions Manchester City appear to have secured themselves a victory over the Premier League on the division’s associated party transaction (APT) rules.

The development has emerged after a vote to amend the rules was ‘pulled at the last-minute’ from Thursday morning’s meeting between Premier League clubs, and as such indicates that Manchester City have been successful in their legal challenge, according to the report.

The report explains that with there would be no point in amending APT rules that may soon be changed or removed, in what is also being described as a ‘potentially huge development’ for the league.

The development concerning Manchester City’s case against the Premier League and their APT rules comes as the hearing into the club’s 115 charges for alleged breaches of the financial rules also started earlier this month.

Following a four-year investigation, it was revealed in February 2023 that Manchester City had allegedly breached its financial rules between 2009 and 2018, and the club continue to strongly deny all charges and have said their case is supported by a “comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence”.