Man City v Premier League: Keith Wyness shares ‘incredible’ verdict
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness has claimed a solution to the fight between Man City and the Premier League over associated party transactions (APT) rules is still a “long way” away.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, the 66-year-old – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – blamed the Premier League for opening up the “can of worms” in the first place.
Man City took legal action in June against the Premier League regarding the APT rules currently in place and both sides claimed a victory in the case after the arbitration panel’s decision was published on 7 October.
In reality, two aspects of the rules were deemed to be unlawful while huge parts of the regulations are set to remain or become tougher.
APT rules prevent clubs from inflating sponsorship deals with companies heavily linked to their ownerships, a move Man City claimed was anti-competitive.
The 20 top-flight clubs held a meeting on 22 October to discuss the next steps and the Premier League is now expected to update its proposals around rules governing commercial deals.
Man City v Premier League APT solution a ‘long way’ away, says Wyness
Wyness told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: “The can of worms the Premier League have opened is incredible.
“The Premier League say the independent regulator would have unintended consequences.
“Well nothing can be surer that they have opened unintended outcomes themselves with the introduction of PSR.
“It’s had a detrimental effect and football is in the headlines for all the wrong reasons again.
“We’re still a long way from the whole associated party transaction situation being ruled on, in my opinion.
“We still can’t completely turn our attention to getting on with the football with this hanging over it.”
In other news, City set aside funds for two big January deals.
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