Manchester City sues the Premier League!

Manchester City has taken legal action against the Premier League over the rule governing transactions between clubs and companies of the same owner, such as City’s case in the United Arab Emirates.

According to British newspaper The Times, City is suing the Premier League for what it considers “injustice” and “discrimination” and is demanding benefits lost in recent years due to this measure.

Etihad is the stadium’s namesake and main sponsor

About a third of Manchester City’s sponsors, including, for example, Etihad, which gives its name to the stadium and is the main shirt sponsor, come from the United Arab Emirates, the country that has controlled the club since it was bought in 2008.

The current regulations indicate that, for a club to have an agreement with a company of the same owner, The agreement has to go through an independent commission specifying that it is at the market price so as not to have financial doping.

Effective from December 2021

That rule implemented in December 2021 when Newcastle United was bought by Saudi Arabia. At the time, in the Premier League vote, which established that 14 votes were needed for an initiative to go ahead, City abstained and Newcastle voted against.

If this rule is removed, clubs will be able to value agreements with their own companies at the amount they want.

City, pending punishment

This legal action comes a year and four months after the Premier League accuse Manchester City of 115 financial irregularities made between 2009 and 2018, denied by the club.

There is no exact date yet for the penalties, should the club be found guilty, but the trial is due to start this autumn and the results, which could include the loss of points and even relegation, could be determined in the summer of 2025 .