Man City spark 'civil war' with legal action against Premier League (original) (raw)

Manchester City claim that Premier League rules are discriminating against Gulf ownership as two-week private arbitration hearing set to begin next week with huge consequences for separate case into 115 charges

Pep Guardiola's Manchester City were crowned Premier League champions for the fourth consecutive season

Manchester City have launched an unprecedented legal claim against the Premier League that could see civil war break out between top flight clubs.

As reported by The Times, the champions are alleging discrimation by the Premier League against Gulf ownership and they want to put an end to the Associated Party Transaction (APT) rules.

A hearing is set to begin next Monday and is expected to last two weeks with City suing for damages. Its outcome could have huge consequences on the separate hearing, scheduled to take place later in 2024, in relation to the 115 charges City face of breaking the league's financial regulations.

The removal of the Premier League's APT rules would see clubs agree sponsorship deals without independent assessment from the league. A number of the 115 charges brought by the Premier League, and being disputed by City, are linked to sponsorship deals.

All other Premier League clubs have been invited to provide evidence to the hearing but it is expected to cause a divide among the 20 teams. The league has known about the impending hearing for several months with the Times report saying a letter was sent to clubs at the beginning of March.

City, who have filed a 165-page claim, have since gone on to win an unrivalled fourth consecutive league title under head coach Pep Guardiola. He has recently stated that next season might be his last at the club.

The APT regulations were introduced following the takeover of Newcastle by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund in 2021 and are meant to preventing clubs from inflating deals with companies linked to their owners.

Four of Abu Dhabi-owned City's main sponsors are based in the United Arab Emirates, while Newcastle's present shirt sponsor is Saudi events company Sela and Chelsea last year struck a deal with the Infinite Athlete firm in which club co-owners Todd Bohely and Behdad Eghbali are investors.

The Premier League have been contacted for comment.

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