"Football has died today" - Man City take HUGE positive step in Premier League legal battle

Jacque Talbot
Jacque Talbot
  • Updated: 26 Sept 2024 16:19 BST
  • 5 min read
Pep Guardiola, Man City
© IMAGO

Manchester City have taken a massive step to victory in their legal challenge against the Premier League's associated party transaction rules.

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The case is separate from the ongoing investigation into the 115 alleged violations of Premier League regulations that the reigning champions are facing.

The Premier League introduced associated party transaction regulations after Newcastle United was purchased by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund. The idea of the rules were to safeguard the integrity of competition by preventing clubs from inflating the value of commercial agreements involving businesses tied to their owners.

According to the regulations, all sponsorship deals must undergo independent evaluation and can only be approved if they are determined to represent "fair market value."

But Man City challenged that, arguing that the current rules discriminated against their ownership by the Abu Dhabi United Group.

Fans react to latest news

Man City are the reigning Premier League champions
© IMAGO - Man City are the reigning Premier League champions

A proposal to amend those regulations was removed from the agenda during Thursday's meeting of Premier League club shareholders, suggesting that the Premier League champions' legal challenge had prevailed.

And fans have reacted to the news online, most unhappy that Man City have come away unscathed in this instance.

Read more about: Premier League, Man City

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