Manchester City have launched a fresh legal challenge against the Premier League, contesting the regulations on associated party transactions (APT) for a second time. This dispute arises as the club continues to contest an earlier challenge against rules governing sponsorship deals linked to a club’s ownership.
The club is also awaiting a verdict, expected in the spring, concerning 130 charges of alleged breaches of Premier League regulations, charges they have consistently denied. Meanwhile, they have formally requested arbitration regarding the latest version of APT rules, which clubs approved late last year. These amendments were made in response to a prior arbitration initiated by City, which deemed certain elements of the original APT rules unlawful.
A letter from the league’s chief executive outlined City’s request and reaffirmed the league’s stance that the revised rules comply with all competition law requirements. It was noted that the tribunal handling the previous case would also oversee this new arbitration to ensure a swift resolution. The league emphasized that the APT regulations remain in force and that all clubs must continue adhering to them.
The November vote on the amended APT rules saw opposition from City, Aston Villa, Newcastle, and Nottingham Forest, while Chelsea abstained. Prior to the vote, City had argued that the process was rushed, and Villa had warned that legal action would likely follow if the rules were passed. A letter from Villa stated that such a move would inevitably lead to further litigation, increasing costs and consuming valuable time.
As legal proceedings unfold, City’s transfer activity has also drawn scrutiny. The club spent £172m in the winter window on four players Nico González, Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov, and Vitor Reis. This significant outlay raised questions about whether the club was preemptively bolstering its squad in case of a transfer embargo resulting from ongoing charges.
However, the manager dismissed this suggestion, insisting that spending decisions were not driven by external pressures. He pointed out that City’s net spend over the past five years remains lower than that of several other top clubs, including Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham, and Liverpool. He emphasized that City has also generated substantial revenue from player sales, which offsets their spending. Despite this, he acknowledged that the club is often portrayed as financially dominant, an image he believes does not reflect the full reality.
One of the key acquisitions, González, was brought in following a serious knee injury to Rodri, which is believed to be season-ending. Despite this, City included Rodri in their Champions League squad for the remainder of the campaign. When questioned about the midfielder’s potential return, the manager explained that Champions League squad rules allowed for only three new additions. As a result, Reis was left out due to his inexperience.
Although hopeful that Rodri might recover sooner than expected, the manager stressed that his primary focus is on having the midfielder fit for next season. If he manages to return in time to contribute later in the competition, it would be an added boost for the team.
