The relationship between the Premier League and Manchester City is becoming increasingly tense. Now the champions are taking legal action against the league’s rules
The Premier League cannot rest during the summer break. According to unanimous reports in the English media, Manchester City has filed a lawsuit against the league. Above all, the reigning champions are questioning the legality of the sponsorship rules that were tightened in February.
The focus is on sponsorship agreements with companies that have links to club owners and are therefore generally suspected of giving the respective club a financial advantage through disproportionate conditions. At the beginning of the year, a majority of Premier League teams voted in favor of tightening the rules for evaluating such deals. Since then, a “fair” market value must be determined for affected contracts.
ManCity sees the voting rules as a “tyranny of the majority “
According to media reports, ManCity see this as a breach of competition law and could seek compensation from the league. The club, which in May became the first in history to win the Premier League four times in a row, is owned by the City Football Group, which in turn is majority-owned by the Abu Dhabi United Group.
A two-week hearing before an arbitration tribunal is due to begin on Monday. ManCity are not only taking action against the sponsorship regulations, but also against the voting rules, which stipulate that a majority of 14 of the 20 Premier League clubs is required for changes, according to reports.
In the opinion of the ManCity managers, this is “a tyranny of the majority”, the Times quoted from a 165-page legal document on Tuesday. In it, the Cityzens also claim to be “discriminated against” by the rules and accuse the competition of trying to “stifle” their sporting success.
ManCity and the Premier League have been at loggerheads for years. In February 2023, the league brought charges against its supposed flagship club for alleged breaches of Financial Fair Play in 115 cases between 2009/10 and 2017/18. The eagerly awaited hearing in this case is set to begin in November. ManCity face a hefty fine
