New Delhi: Premier League has stated to its associated club that they are in no hurry to decide to reply to this week’s verdict on the legal battle with Manchester City over governing rules for commercial deals. In a clear change of stance, Richard Masters, the Premier League chief executive, has conveyed in a letter to clubs that the officials will take time in order to “develop proposals and associated draft rule amendments.” for Associated Part Transaction.
The statement comes in the aftermath of City’s legal challenge. Masters has warned that the summit to discuss the situation will be delayed for a while and even advised that there may be some “impact on scheduling”. Both parties have claimed victory with the decision of an arbitration panel published on Monday after the City challenged the existing APT regulations.
🚨🔵 Manchester City statement confirm legal win over Premier League after the governing commercial deals between clubs and related companies were declared unlawful. pic.twitter.com/ThWGMequZT
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 7, 2024
The purpose of the APT rules is ensure that sponsorship deals with companies linked to cubs’ owners portray the actual market value. City’s complaints have been sustained with two rules perceived unlawful. The Premier League have now said that there is no easy solution to the disputes with City. Masters has said that the league will operate with minor changes to the law so that it gives a quick and easy remedy for both the club and the leagues.
Will there be changes in APT rules?
The verdict had found that the low-interest shareholder loans shouldn’t be out of the jurisdiction of APT rules and the changes made in February to make the regulations more strict were breaching the competition law. Premier League’s had initially claimed on Monday that the panel was in support of the APT system and that they would try to amend rules quickly and effectively.
It is reported that their Financial Controls Advisory Group and Legal Advisory Group are scheduled meet next Tuesday and that there will be a meeting with the clubs on Thursday. Masters in his recent communication to the clubs has said that he has recently received many informative feedbacks from the clubs.
Masters believes that the data will help the board take a better decision into drafting rule amendments with keeping club interests into consideration as well. Masters continued that the further circulations of these new rules will only take place once the drafts are ready and this could affect the planned meeting Financial Controls and Legal Advisory Groups and the clubs in the coming week.
On the other hand, City had reacted to the ruling by claimining that the panel’s decisions were “misleading” and there were imprecisions. City further sent a rule to the top-tier clubs and the Premier League, stating that the rules were now invalid and that the club was concerned that the new APT rules could be taken in haste.
The league though didn’t respond to the statement, according to media sources, the clubs are in a division in their views over the situation. Some even felt that the dispute is having “destablising effect”. While the other are of the view that the modifications should be done in a “thoughtful” manner but their ultimate goal was to concentrate on football.
For their part, the league has written to the decision making bench, seeking clarity on their standing with the APT regulations. This case is unrelated to the 115 charges that the Premier League disciplinary commission are sue to hear against City for breaching financial rules with some dating back to 2009. City have maintained that there has been no malice from their side.
Premier League has decided to take time in amending changes to APT rules after judgement over commercial deals. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
