Man City launch fresh legal case against the Premier League

Paul Macdonald

• 7 Feb 2025 15:30 GMT
• 3 min read

Breaking

Manchester City’s legal issues with the Premier League look as if they will extend beyond their 115 charges, as the champions announced their intention to take legal action against the governing body once more.

As reported by City Lawyer, City have reinvigorated their associated party transactions (ATP) case against the league, despite a previous incarnation of their complaint being settled in October, a decision which saw both sides proclaim victory afterwards.

READ MORE: How Man City spent €218m in January despite 115 charges

That case is currently under appeal, with City claiming that the function of ATP is invalid, with the league claiming some minor amendments would rectify the issue. That means that now there are three different legal complaints underway involving the league and City.

The basis of the complaint from City is that ATP, which enforces regulations involving companies operated by the owner of the club, is in breach of public law. This comes after the Premier League clubs voted through an amendment to ATP regulations in November by a margin of 16-4.

READ MORE: The 10 biggest spenders of the January transfer window

Premier League rules require a majority of 14 in order to be ratified. City, Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and Newcastle voted against. Newcastle are owned by Saudi Arabia-backed PIF, while Villa have previously threatened legal action around the Profit and Sustainability Regulations (PSR) enforced upon teams.

But City are set to test the Premier League’s resolve around ATP once again by raising a case for the second time in just over a year. The league’s various legal fees spiralled to over £45m in 2023-24 alone.

The 115 charges case was settled in December and the results will be made public imminently. City responded by providing striker Erling Haaland a staggering nine-and-a-half year deal last month, as well as spending in excess of £180m in the window on new players, including £70m on forward Omar Marmoush from Eintracht Frankfurt.