Aston Villa are throwing their weight behind Man City – sources
Manchester City have received support from Aston Villa in their associated party transactions (APT) case against the Premier League.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, senior correspondent Pete O’Rourke revealed Villa are backing Man City after their owner Nassef Sawiris threatened legal action against the governing body over the profit and sustainability (PSR) rules.
The West Midlands giants proposed the allowable loss limit should be increased from £105million to £135million for the 2024-25 season, but Premier League clubs voted against the suggestion last week.
Sawiris has admitted Villa are considering legal action against the PSR rules after Football Insider revealed the club must raise £60million in player sales this summer to balance the books.
It comes at the same time Man City have pursued legal action against the Premier League regarding the APT rules currently in place, with the club claiming the regulations are “unlawful”.
If the rules weren’t in place, clubs could agree sponsorship deals as high as they wanted with no challenge, increasing the amount they could spend under the PSR rules.
Man City receive Aston Villa support in battle against Premier League
O’Rourke admitted it’s difficult to predict which way the case will go as the two-week hearing, which started on 10 June, is being held in private.
Football Insider revealed on 9 June that Man City expect to win the case as they look to land a blow on the Premier League.
Man City’s relationship with the governing body has already been strained by their 115 charges, which are due to be heard in November across a six-week period.
The English champions are not alone in their frustrations over how the Premier League has handled some recent issues after Everton and Nottingham Forest were both handed points deductions last season for breaching the spending rules.
Football Insider revealed on 6 June that Newcastle United were prepared to submit documents in support of Man City prior to the start of their hearing.
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