Manchester City launch fresh legal challenge on Premier League over “unlawful” rules | OneFootball

Premier League champions Manchester City have lodged a fresh legal challenge upon the English top-flight over more “unlawful” sponsorship rules, it has been revealed.

The latest development follows a vote in November, when a majority of top-flight clubs voted in favour of changes to APT rules, prompted by a legal challenge sparked by Manchester City in June 2024 when the club deemed the rules to be part of “a tyranny of the majority”.

An independent arbitration tribunal concluded some of rules were unlawful and Manchester City warned that further legal action would follow if the Premier League opted to ‘rush’ in to amendments before a panel had deliberated on its own findings.

Such findings are expected to be known later this month but City have already requested a new arbitration, with Lord Pannick overseeing the case – a name familiar to supporters having been involved in the club’s alleged breaches of Premier League financial rules.

Prior to the vote on rule changes back in November 2024, Aston Villa owner Nassef Sawiris admitted publicly that he would be standing alongside Manchester City in voting against the proposed changes.

Ultimately however, a total of 16 of the 20 Premier League clubs voted in favour of the the division’s proposal, with Aston Villa only joined by Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest alongside Manchester City in opposition.

Now, according to the information of The Times’ Matt Lawton, City have now escalated their battle with the Premier League having launched a fresh legal challenge against the new sponsorship rules the Etihad Stadium club claims are also “unlawful”.

It is detailed that Manchester City’s lawyers have now informed the Premier League that they are seeking another arbitration hearing concerning the Associated Party Transaction (APT) rules.

The Times have seen a letter sent to clubs on Thursday afternoon as the Premier League’s chief executive, Richard Masters revealed the latest development involving Manchester City and sponsorship rules.

In a letter to clubs on Thursday afternoon, which has been seen by The Times, the Premier League chief executive, Richard Masters, revealed the latest development.

“On January 20, 2025, Manchester City FC began a further arbitration to challenge the APT rules. As you will see, the new challenge relates to the amendments to the APT rules that clubs approved at the 22 November 2024 shareholders’ meeting,” the letter read.

“Manchester City FC seeks a declaration that the amendments approved by clubs in November (and therefore the current APT rules in force) are unlawful and void.

“The Premier League remains strongly of the view that the amendments passed in November were lawful and the APT rules comply with all competition law requirements.

“We consider that the new arbitration must be resolved as soon as possible and, to that end, have agreed that the same tribunal should be appointed to hear the new case. The parties are currently corresponding in relation to further directions.

“The APT rules remain in full force and effect and clubs remain required to comply with all aspects of the system.”

The report also reveals that Manchester City’s key issue is focused on the treatment of shareholder loans – made to clubs from owners or directors – within the new Associated Party Transaction rules.

Additional reporting from MailSport’s Mike Keegan has also revealed that Manchester City’s action is once again being led by Lord Pannick KC.

As claimed by Pep Guardiola, there is also a belief from within the Etihad Stadium that a verdict over the club’s 115 charges for alleged financial breaches could come as soon as later this month into March.