October 08, (THEWILL) – Manchester City has disputed the English Premier League’s interpretation of a recent legal case concerning rules about commercial deals. The club wrote to all 19 EPL teams and the league itself, stating that associated party transaction (APT) rules should be considered void since 2021.
The League champions and the league both declared victory following an arbitration panel’s decision. While the EPL claimed the Etihad club failed in most of their challenge, City’s general counsel Simon Cliff called this summary “misleading” and highlighted that the tribunal found the APT rules unlawful for three different reasons.
The dispute centres on regulations designed to ensure commercial agreements with entities connected to club owners reflect fair market value. City launched their legal challenge earlier this year, arguing these rules breached competition law. The EPL plans to modify these rules quickly, but City has warned against rushed changes.
This case stands separate from City’s ongoing battle against 115 charges related to alleged breaches of EPL financial rules. City’s position remains firm that the original APT rules, introduced in late 2021, were “rushed, ill-thought-out” and anti-competitive.
The League maintains its summary was accurate and rejects claims of misleading information. However, City’s legal team has cautioned that hasty implementation of new rules could trigger further legal proceedings.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
