An arbitration panel has ruled that the Premier League’s previous commercial deal regulations—before their revision in November—are “void and unenforceable” after a legal challenge from Manchester City.
The four-time Premier League champions took action against the league last year over its associated party transaction (APT) rules, which govern deals between clubs and entities linked to their owners to ensure fair market value. A panel found three elements of these rules to be unlawful in a ruling issued in October.
Following that decision, the Premier League believed only specific parts of the APT regulations needed adjusting, leading clubs to approve changes the following month. However, City argued that the entire set of rules was void and warned against making hasty amendments. Both parties sought further clarification from the arbitration panel.
In its final decision, the panel concluded: “The three respects in which the APT rules and amended APT rules were unlawful cannot be severed with the result that the APT rules as a whole are void and unenforceable.”
The reference to “amended rules” pertains to revisions made in February last year.
City has now launched a separate challenge against the updated regulations introduced in November, with the same arbitration panel overseeing the case.
On that matter, the panel noted: “However, there remains for decision [in the fresh arbitration commenced on January 2025] whether the November 2024 amended APT rules are valid and effective.”
Given the February 14 ruling, the outcome of this latest arbitration could significantly shape the future governance of commercial agreements in the league.
Manchester City declined to comment.
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