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

Jacque Talbot

• Updated: 26 Sept 2024 16:19 BST
• 5 min read

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

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

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.

Man City proving again they're masters of the Dark Arts where it really matters https://t.co/441BX0bqdN

— Robin Bairner (@RBairner) September 26, 2024

City owners have more money than the premier league & money always wins https://t.co/WC4wa8aYD9

— Jimmy McBride (@jimmymcbride1) September 26, 2024

This whole thing probably ends in the Premier League getting fined by Man City.

Absolute shambles of an organisation 😂 https://t.co/BU7glXub1U

— Footy Accumulators (@FootyAccums) September 26, 2024

Are we surprised? No, not really. The league is a complete laughing stock.

It’s corrupt as fuck. https://t.co/GBq265De1i

— Logannffc🇧🇷 (@LeesLogan) September 26, 2024

Man City fans getting waaaay too over excited right now.

The strong likelihood is that Man City has not won anything material in their challenge to the APTs.

I have always thought they stood a good chance in a challenge against the recent rule change (where clubs have the… https://t.co/XJAAyEsTe9

— Magic hat (@themagic_tophat) September 26, 2024

This is absolutely disgraceful. Football is finished https://t.co/QgCMlCVyt7

— Adi (@UTDAdi7) September 26, 2024