Manchester City have won their legal battle with the Premier League, as an independent tribunal rules that the league’s financial regulations were “unlawful, void, and unenforceable.”
The ruling, separate from City’s ongoing case involving 130 alleged financial breaches, specifically invalidates the Associated Party Transactions (APT) rules, which governed sponsorship deals linked to club owners from December 2021 to November 2024.
This verdict could have major implications for the Premier League authorities, potentially opening the door for compensation claims from clubs like City and Newcastle, who were restricted by the rules.
City had challenged the Premier League after proposed deals with Etihad Airways and First Abu Dhabi Bank were blocked in 2023.
The tribunal’s decision also means the Premier League must cover £20 million in legal costs.
Despite this setback, the league insists that its new financial regulations, implemented after a vote in November, remain valid.