Premier League and Manchester City Settle Long-standing Disagreement over Regulations Controversy
Manchester City and Premier League Reach Settlement Over APT Rules Dispute
In a significant development, Manchester City and the Premier League have announced that they have reached an out-of-court settlement regarding their dispute over the APT rules. The joint statement released by both parties confirmed that the proceedings have been terminated.
The APT rules, introduced to prevent clubs, particularly those owned by nation states, from inflating revenue to bypass financial regulations, have been a point of contention between Manchester City and the Premier League. The club had argued that these rules were 'anti-competitive and unlawful.'
However, in a surprising turn of events, Manchester City has accepted that the current APT Rules are valid and binding. This acceptance comes following an independent arbitration tribunal's findings that three aspects of the old APT rules were unlawful.
The Premier League, in response, has subsequently revised the rules to address these concerns. It's important to note that this settlement does not affect the 115 financial charges against Manchester City, which remain separate from this dispute.
The APT rules were designed to ensure commercial deals between a club and entities linked to its owners are conducted at a fair market value. This is a concern that has been raised by some supporters of clubs, such as Newcastle United, due to their association with nations like the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Newcastle United is majority controlled by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of the oil-rich Middle Eastern nation. The club's marketing partnerships are linked with this wealthy Middle Eastern nation through its ownership.
The new owner of Newcastle United, acquired in 2021, is the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF). This settlement between Manchester City and the Premier League marks a significant step forward in the implementation of the APT rules, providing a clearer path for clubs owned by nation states to operate within the financial regulations of the Premier League.
The settlement between Manchester City and the Premier League is final, with no further comments to be made by either party regarding the APT Rules. This development is expected to bring closure to a long-standing dispute and pave the way for a more harmonious relationship between clubs and the Premier League moving forward.
