LONDON — Manchester City have taken legal action against the Premier League, claiming “discrimination”, in a move which could bring far-reaching consequences upon English football’s top flight, The Times revealed on Tuesday.
A source has confirmed to ESPN FC that the recently-crowned Championship crown-winners would seek an end to league’s associated party transaction (APT) rules —which they believe are illegal— while looking for damages.
New rules specifically relating to APTs (associates, parents and third parties) were introduced by the Premier League in February and govern a scenario where clubs sign sponsorship agreements with businesses connected to their owners.
According to The Times, a two-week arbitration hearing is due to take place beginning next Monday between City and the Premier League over their dispute.
City, owned by Abu Dhabi sealed a fourth Premier League crown in five seasons this month to hammer home their decade-long dominance of the English game.
They have grown at breakneck speed, fuelled largely by sponsorship arrangements from a raft of partners in the Gulf. Click on any of those attractive fixture boxes, though, and you will be shown a page with all your details changes surrounding it as well the less appealing information that Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways are both City’s stadium sponsor and shirt sponso
City, managed by Pep Guardiola in the present case are facing 115 Premier League charges for alleged breaches of regulations and financial rules over a period beginning from September 2009 to December…. having said that they have strongly denied these accusations.
The hearing is expected to take place in November.
The APT rules are intended to ensure the competitiveness of the Premier League by forcing clubs to demonstrate that commercial deals represent market value.
Where once a City appeared to be protesting in innocence, the Times reported they had lodged 165-page arguments against what it perceives as “discrimination,” calling for “tyranny of the majority that rules football today” and accused them of attacking their success on field.
In addition to this, any proposals for changes to Premier League rules and significant commercial or broadcast arrangements must be approved by at least two-thirds of those who vote in a ballot (14 clubs out of the current 20).
A successful legal fight from City could potentially enable the very richest clubs to count their sponsorship as they like, rather than have it independently assessed – widening further still the money-gap in English football.
According to the report, some 10-12 clubs had submitted — or offered statutory declarations of proof for — witness statements in backing play against supporters Citysuiteds.reduce.
The Times added that City have sued the Premier League for financial damages as a result of losses they believe were caused by existing rules.
According to the report, City claim the rules were introduced after they said rival clubs lobbied for them following Newcastle’s takeover by Saudi owners last year.SCity say that was done “to protect their own commercial interests”.
Rival teams apparently considered the assertion of City as lies and discrimination against Gulf ownership, with one senior club executive telling The Times:ancai??
