Several Premier League clubs believe that Manchester City winning a legal case aimed at demolishing financial controls would spell the end of any competitive balance in the competition, Mail Sport understands.
As City prepare for next week’s legal case seeking an abolition of limits on cash Abu Dhabi sponsors funnel into the reigning champions, one club executive has told Mail Sport: ‘If this case succeeds, what’s the point?’ Another said: ‘We might as well walk away from the idea of competing with them.’
Despite one source suggesting some clubs were ‘losing their s***’ with the champions over their attempt to end the Premier League’s Associated Party Transaction (APT) rules, City on Wednesday joined the 19 members in Harrogate, west Yorkshire, for a ‘club strategy day’ – staged to discuss the Premier League’s future.
Other clubs’ executives are attempting to maintain an air of professional civility with City chief executive Ferran Soriano. But one prevalent – though unconfirmed – view among clubs is that the Premier League champions have a major new sponsor in the wings, whose cash would help to regenerate their squad.
One club executive said: ‘This case is being brought forward in next to no time by City – the exact opposite of 115 charges (of breaching financial sustainability rules) which they are facing.’
Some Premier League clubs believe that Manchester City winning their legal case will end competitive balance in the division
Manchester City have sued the Premier League over new financial rules, claiming they are victims of ‘discrimination’
Significantly, the other club most likely to benefit from a scrapping of APT rules – Newcastle United – have not joined City’s case to have them ruled illegal, which includes a demand for damages.
Newcastle are understood to be content to sit back, see how the legal case plays out and let City drive the process, rather than go to war with Premier League themselves.
Newcastle’s co-owner, Amanda Staveley, is not viewed among Premier League colleagues as a destructive force, despite the Tyneside club privately opposing the APT rules, introduced in December 2021 after the Saudi takeover at St James Park. Staveley and Newcastle are seen as something of an enigma on this issue.
Chelsea, whose co-owners Clearlake have had billions in Saudi investment, are viewed by some clubs as far more destructive to the Premier League’s wish to maintain a competitive balance.
In a statement issued before news of the legal case surfaced, City chairman Khaldoon al Mubarak criticised Premier League over financial ‘regulations’ introduced in the last 12 months.
Some clubs are ‘losing their s***’ over the legal case while one executive asked ‘what’s the point?’ in the event that they succeed
City look to end the Associated Party Transaction (APT) rules, which they claim are unlawful
He told City TV: ‘I think the Premier League got to where it is today by being the most competitive league. So, I hope there is a bit more sensibility in regulating.
‘Always a balanced approach is good from all the leagues, be it in England or the rest of Europe. I think you won’t see the same level as we’ve seen in the last years, because of the levels of regulations that have come into place over the last 12 months.’ The Premier League has declined to comment.
