‘Man City could face year-long wait for legal resolution after new twist’
Manchester City’s biggest battles this season have come off the pitch following their high-profile legal disputes with the Premier League.
The English champions are waiting to hear the decision in their 115 charges case, with the independent panel currently considering its verdict.
They are alleged to have concealed payments through third parties by disguising them as sponsorship revenue, having initially been handed the charges in February 2023.
Man City have shown signs of confidence the verdict will go in their favour, but little information has come to light throughout the process.
The Manchester giants have been embroiled in a further legal battle after challenging the Premier League’s associated party transaction (APT) rules at an arbitration hearing in June last year.
The independent panel overseeing the case deemed two aspects of the rules, which were designed to prevent clubs from inflating the value of commercial deals linked to their owners, were unlawful when it published its findings in October.
The Premier League issued proposed amendments that were later approved by the top-flight clubs at a meeting in November.
Man City were backed by Aston Villa, Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest in opposing the changes, but a majority was reached after the other 16 clubs voted in favour of the motion.
Man City submit new legal challenge after Premier League twist
The Premier League was hit by a new blow in February after the panel deemed the APT rules in place between 2021 and 2024 were “void and unenforceable”.
However, the Premier League has insisted the ruling doesn’t impact the “valid operation” of the current APT rules following the changes made in November.
Man City have since submitted a new legal challenge as they look to overhaul the APT rules for a second time.
The Lawyer reported on 22 April the trial between Man City and the Premier League will take place in mid-October.
That raises various questions around when the verdict will be delivered and whether another season is going to be dominated by legal disputes.
It’s been more than nine months since the first hearing took place, so there is every chance this case could go on for another year before the matter comes to a close.
| Position | Team | Played | Points | GD |
| 1 | Liverpool | 33 | 79 | 44 |
| 2 | Arsenal | 34 | 67 | 34 |
| 3 | Man City | 34 | 61 | 23 |
| 4 | Nottingham Forest | 33 | 60 | 14 |
| 5 | Newcastle United | 33 | 59 | 18 |
| 6 | Chelsea | 33 | 57 | 18 |
| 7 | Aston Villa | 34 | 57 | 5 |
Man City could claim compensation after APT verdict
Man City initially took legal action against the Premier League after seeing some of their commercial deals rejected or adjusted.
The deals in question with Etihad Airways and First Abu Dhabi Bank in 2023 were blocked for not being fair-market value under the APT rules.
Man City could claim compensation from the Premier League after the rules were found to be unlawful during that period.
However, like all of the ongoing legal disputes, it’s likely to be a significant amount of time before the club are compensated for a potential loss of earnings.
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