Manchester City have accused the Premier League of being “misleading” regarding the verdict in its landmark legal case on rules pertaining to commercial deals.
The Cityzens have written to the other 19 clubs in the top-flight division of English football, criticizing the league’s summary of the panel’s ruling, sharing that it contains “several inaccuracies”.
Who Sent The Letter To The Premier League For Manchester City?
The letter, which was also sent to the Premier League, was delivered by Manchester City’s general counsel, Simon Cliff, on Monday, October 7, 2024.
“Regrettably, the summary is misleading and contains several inaccuracies.”, Cliff asserted in the letter.
Both parties have claimed victory after the decision of an arbitration panel was published on Monday, October 8, 2024, following a legal tussle by Manchester City against the league’s associated party transaction (APT) stipulations.
Manchester City, who are owned by the Abu Dhabi-backed City Football Group, had some complaints dealt with appropriately, with two aspects of the APT rules deemed unlawful by a tribunal.
Additionally, the Cityzens have claimed their legal action had “succeeded,” having witnessed some judgments go in their favor.
However, the Premier League also welcomed the tribunal’s verdict, indicating it rejected the majority of Manchester City’s challenges and “endorsed the overall objectives, framework, and decision-making of the APT system.”
What Are Association Party Transaction?
APTs are targeted at sponsorship deals with organizations linked to clubs’ owners, ensuring they are of legitimate market value.
Reports indicate that Manchester City have opted not to comment on the letter, while the Premier League has also declined to discuss the matter.
According to the BBC, a senior source attached to the Premier League shared that the administrative body rejects any view that its summary of the ruling was misleading or inaccurate.
It is understood that a consultation with the clubs is now underway, and they are meeting on Thursday, October 17, 2024, to discuss the fallout, but there will be no vote at that stage.
Is This Tussle Between Premier League And Manchester City Related To The 115 Charges?
This particular tussle involving the Premier League and Manchester City is not directly related to the division’s disciplinary commission.
The Premier League disciplinary commission will hear 115 charges against the Cityzens for allegedly breaching its financial regulations, some of which date back to 2009.
Manchester City have denied any wrongdoing and they are prepared to prove their innocence with their legal representatives.
Manchester City’s Letter
The letter sent by Manchester City’s general counsel Simon Cliff offered “clarifications” to “assist member clubs with their understanding” in response to a summary of the panel’s ruling by Premier League chief executive Richard Masters.
A part of the letter read: “The tribunal has declared the APT rules to be unlawful. MCFC’s position is that this means that all of the APT rules are void.
“The decision does not contain an ‘endorsement’ of the APT rules, nor does it state that the APT rules, as enacted, were ‘necessary’ to ensure the efficacy of the League’s financial controls.”
The letter from Cliff indicated the club’s admittance that they didn’t succeed with every of their stance but added that a judgment against APT rules went in their favor.
Simon Cliff’s letter read: “While it is true that MCFC did not succeed with every point that it ran in its legal challenge, the club did not need to prove that the APT rules are unlawful for lots of different reasons. It is enough that they are unlawful for one reason.”
