This is critical – Manchester City and Premier League both ask Tribunal for exact meaning of ruling

This looks to be a key and critical moment in the battle between the Premier League and Manchester City.

On Monday, the independent tribunal published their lengthy ruling on the APT (Associated Party Transaction) dispute.

However, there was a bizarre reaction afterwards, from the two sides.

With both Manchester City AND the Premier League claiming victory.

So what exactly was the final score, the end result?

Manchester City are claiming that the tribunal’s ruling means that all the APT rules are void.

The Premier League are insisting that only narrow parts of their rules have been declared unlawful, that its basic system remains intact, so it can plan making the necessary changes. That only a bit of fine tuning is needed and carry on as before…

Well, The Times has now revealed that both sides have asked for further clarification from the independent tribunal panel, which is made of of three retired senior judges.

The further detailed ruling seemingly set to be pivotal in terms of what now happens moving forward.

We have now moved into added time…

The Times report – 9 October 2024:

‘The tribunal panel that delivered its verdict on Manchester City’s legal challenge will issue more findings to provide full clarity on the status of the Premier League’s Associated Party Transaction regulations.

The confirmation that there is to be a fuller explanation of the findings by the three-man panel, all retired senior judges, means that there is still some uncertainty over the final outcome — including what that may mean for City’s proposed new huge sponsorship deal with Etihad.

That situation is likely to mean the civil war that has flared up in the Premier League will continue to rage, with Manchester City on Tuesday threatening more legal action if the Premier League tries to implement immediate changes to the APT rules.

City are claiming the tribunal’s ruling means that all the APT rules are void. The Premier League insists that only narrow parts of their rules have been declared unlawful and that its basic system remains intact — and so it can plan making the necessary changes.

What has become clear is that the ruling that caused such an impact in English football when it was published on Tuesday may be only the first tremor: the tribunal’s full explanation could be a greater earthquake for the future of the top flight.

The fact that the tribunal has more to say was hinted at in Manchester City’s letter to the other 19 member clubs, some of whom have been infuriated by its tone and implied threat.

Insiders have also confirmed to The Times that the Premier League has agreed that the tribunal needs to issue further guidance about what its ruling means in relation to the status of the APT rules.

However, the Premier League’s legal guidance is understood to be that the APT rules remain intact, apart from the amendments agreed in January, including those that put the burden of proof on clubs to show that deals were of fair market value.

It, therefore, believes that it can already start to remedy the parts of the rules that were deemed unlawful, including around making shareholder loans part of APT. However no decisions or vote will be taken at the emergency Premier League shareholders’ meeting called for Wednesday next week over the tribunal’s ruling, but league chiefs will want to be given authority regarding a direction of travel.’