Premier League to âtake timeâ over response to APT case
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The Premier League has warned its clubs it will be âtaking the necessary timeâ to decide how to respond to this weekâs landmark verdict in the legal battle with Manchester City over rules governing commercial deals.
In a letter sent by chief executive Richard Masters â and seen by BBC Sport â he hints at a possible delay to a key meeting to discuss the situation, advising there could be an âimpact on the schedulingâ.
Both sides claimed victory after the decision of an arbitration panel was published on Monday following a legal challenge by City against the leagueâs associated party transaction (APT) regulations.
APT rules are in place to ensure sponsorship deals with companies linked to clubsâ owners represent fair market value.
City had some complaints upheld, with two aspects of the rules deemed unlawful by the tribunal.
The tribunal said low-interest shareholder loans should not be excluded from the scope of APT rules, and that changes made in February to toughen up the regulations also breached competition law.
In its initial response on Monday, the Premier League said the panel âendorsed the overall objectives, framework and decision-making of the APT systemâ, adding it would seek to amend its rules âquickly and effectivelyâ.
Its Financial Controls Advisory Group and Legal Advisory Group are due to meet next Tuesday, with a full meeting of the clubs following on Thursday.
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However, in his latest correspondence to clubs, Masters says: âThere have been many club conversations over recent days, with constructive and informative feedback provided.
âWe now have a comprehensive set of information and data which is helping to inform our recommended approach and rule amendment drafting.
âWe are taking the necessary time to develop our proposals and the associated draft rule amendments for club consideration.
âWe will circulate these to clubs when fully considered and ready, which may impact on the scheduling of our planned meetings with Financial Controls and Legal Advisory Groups, and all clubs next week.â
Earlier this week, City claimed the Premier Leagueâs summary of the panelâs ruling was âmisleadingâ and contained âseveral inaccuraciesâ, in an escalation of the dispute.
In a letter sent to top-flight clubs and the Premier League, City wrote that the rules were now âvoidâ, that the club had âconcern [over] the Premier Leagueâs suggestion that new APT rules should be passed within the next 10 daysâ, and signalled possible further legal action if there was a âknee-jerk reactionâ.
The league declined to comment.
Clubs approached by the BBC have expressed different views over the situation. One referred to âgeneral concern at the potential destabilising effect of this ongoing disputeâ.
Another said: âWe want to move forward⊠there will obviously be modifications to the rules and it needs to be done in a thoughtful way and we go on. We want to focus on the football.â
Several others declined to comment.
The league has also written to the tribunal panel to get further clarity on the status of the APT regulations.
This case is not directly related to the Premier League disciplinary commission, which will hear 115 charges against City for allegedly breaching its financial regulations, some of which date back to 2009. City deny wrongdoing.
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Published26 July 2022
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