Further uncertainty looms over Manchester City vs Premier League case following release of 2024/25 handbook

Uncertainty continues to hang over the outcome of Manchester City’s challenge of the Premier League’s Associated Party Transaction (APT) rules, it has been revealed.

It was revealed in early June 2024 that Manchester City were due to face the Premier League in a legal battle over the top-flight’s commercial rules, with an arbitration hearing set for between 10-21 June.

That hearing specifically surrounded the legality of the Premier League’s Associated Party Transaction (APT) rules, which determine whether sponsorship deals agreed upon by the division’s 20 clubs are financially ‘fair’.

Upon the emergence of Manchester City’s case against the top-flight, the Premier League offered the remaining 19 members of the division the opportunity to make witness statements as part of the case, while neither party involved made comment on the matter at the time.

While the outcome of the arbitration hearing was expected not to be made public, the release of the Premier League’s handbook ahead of the 2024/25 season provides a clear indicator as to the outcome of the matter.

As highlighted by football finance expert Stefan Borson on X, there has been no change included within the newly-released Premier League Handbook for the 2024/25 season in relation to the Associated Party Transaction (APT) rules.

However, such a development does not clarify the outcome of Manchester City’s legal challenge against the league’s rules.

Borson emphasises that the lack of change on APT rules could either mean that there has been no decision yet from the Manchester City versus the Premier League arbitration, or that the Premier League came out on top.

This is a developing story. More to follow.