English football’s civil war has exploded — with Manchester City accusing the Premier League of ‘misleading’ clubs over the pair’s legal battle on sponsorship rules.
Mail Sport revealed that, in an unprecedented move, the champions sent an email to all other clubs late on Monday in which they warned of further legal action and argued League bosses had been spreading ‘inaccuracies’.
City claimed a landmark victory after a tribunal found League rules around commercial deals with parties linked to club owners to be unlawful.
However, the Premier League downplayed the significance of the verdict in an email to clubs — a move later slated by City’s legal counsel in an email of their own.
League chief Richard Masters claimed the tribunal had, on the whole, backed their associated party transaction (APT) rules but had ‘identified a small number of elements… which do not, in their current form, comply with competition and public law requirements’. He added that changes could ‘quickly and effectively be remedied’.
The Premier League, led by Richard Masters, will hold an emergency meeting next week
Man City claimed a legal victory against Associated Party Transactions (APT) rules, but the Premier League has downplayed the significance of the verdict
That clearly caused outrage at City, who effectively accused the Premier League of lying in a lengthy message to all clubs and the League themselves.
Clubs will now hold an emergency meeting next Thursday to discuss their next steps. Sources have disclosed that ‘big-hitters’ from each team will attend.
The Premier League are set to face serious questions over the work of their legal department, with this latest setback following their embarrassing defeat at the hands of Leicester City after the Foxes’ successful appeal over alleged breaches of financial rules.
‘It’s difficult to see this as a Premier League win,’ said a well-placed source. ‘There is also a lot of unease over how much is being spent on legal bills and whether that is being spent wisely.’
A vote on amendments to APTs will not take place despite Masters’ comments.
City, who may now claim damages, have received messages of support from ‘multiple’ clubs, although it is understood some feel they have overstepped the mark with their email.
While the Premier League declined to comment, officials reject any notion that Masters’ email was misleading or inaccurate.
In their email, City’s general counsel Simon Cliff told clubs: ‘Regrettably the (League’s) summary is misleading and contains several inaccuracies.’
He dismissed the suggestion new rules could be passed quickly and warned of further, potentially costly, legal action. ‘This is the time for careful reflection by all clubs, and not for a knee-jerk reaction,’ Cliff stated. ‘Such an unwise course would be likely to lead to further legal proceedings with further legal costs.
‘It is critical for member clubs to feel they can have trust in their regulator.’