Verdict on Manchester City’s Premier League legal case due very soon – Belief of ‘some success’ achieved

The verdict on Manchester City’s legal case brought against Premier League rules earlier this year is expected to be ruled upon very soon, a new report has revealed.

It was first reported in early June 2024 that City would be due to face the Premier League in another legal battle, this time over the English top-flight organisation’s associated party transaction (APT) rules, which determine whether sponsorship deals are financially ‘fair’.

A report from The Times newspaper stated at the time that said they had seen a 165-page legal document in which Manchester City claimed they were the victims of “discrimination”, and that amended rules were approved by rivals to “stifle” their success on the pitch.

In a further damning assessment of the Premier League’s commercial rules, the same newspaper report revealed that Manchester City had labelled it “a tyranny of the majority”, with the English top-flight champions also claiming damages as a result.

Now, with very little reported on the hearing and its outcome since June, those awaiting a verdict will not have too much longer to wait, with a new report on the situation detailing the very latest on the matter.

According to the information of The Times’ Martyn Ziegler, the outcome of Manchester City’s legal case brought against the Premier League’s associated party transactions (APT) rules is set to be revealed ‘in the next two weeks’.

As such, it is pointed out that it would then allow the 115 charges hearing to take place earlier, with the same report pointing towards a start date of mid-to-late September, with a final outcome in early 2025.

On the subject of Manchester City’s case on APT rules within England’s top-flight, the report reveals that there is a belief that the Premier League champions have ‘achieved some successes’ in the arbitration hearing.

On all matter, it is further pointed out that the Premier League have ‘declined to comment’, whilst those at Manchester City ‘did not respond’ when approached by The Times newspaper.

By definition, should Manchester City secure a total victory on the matter, then the concept of the Premier League themselves being able to analyse commercial deals for ‘Fair Market Value’ would be undermined.

As such, by definition, associated parties and those with links to Premier League clubs would be able to place sponsorship deals as high as they wanted in terms of financial valuation with no challenge.

However, the matter is in no way connected to Manchester City’s 115 charges related to alleged breaches of Premier League financial rules, which is now expected to take place next month.

With the independent commission on the matter brought forward, following an originally anticipated start date of November, those awaiting a verdict – particular those connected to Manchester City – could received an outcome by early 2025.