Manchester City are preparing for a legal confrontation with the Premier League over the organisation’s commercial rules next week.
An arbitration hearing, scheduled for 10-21 June, will address the legality of the league’s associated party transaction (APT) rules, which assess whether sponsorship deals are financially fair.
In February, reports emerged that the Premier League faced legal action due to changes in its rules. It has now been confirmed to other Premier League clubs that Manchester City is the challenging party. The league has invited the remaining 19 clubs to provide witness statements for the case.
Neither the Premier League nor Manchester City have commented on the case. However, it was reported that a 165-page legal document from City claims they are victims of “discrimination” and that the amended rules were designed by rivals to “stifle” their on-pitch success, describing it as “a tyranny of the majority.”
This legal move comes just months before a Premier League disciplinary commission will address over 100 charges against City for allegedly breaching financial regulations, some dating back to 2009. Some of these charges involve payments from sponsors linked to Abu Dhabi.
The new rules on sponsorship deals were agreed earlier this year by at least 14 clubs, with the Premier League stating the changes would “enhance the efficiency and accuracy of the system.”
Manchester City, who recently made history by becoming the first club to win the Premier League title for four consecutive seasons are also seeking damages.
