Premier League clubs approve changes to APT rules in blow to Manchester City | first division

The Premier League has obtained an important victory in its battle against city ​​of manchester on Friday, after clubs voted decisively to change the rules on associated party transactions (APT).

While the changes are relatively minor and the rules relate to only one aspect of the competition's complicated spending regulations, the outcome of the motion was significant. In a split vote 16 to four, the clubs fell behind the Premier League leadership and ignored a call from the champions to mount a broader challenge to the rules.

After weeks of negotiations and bitter lobbying, the decision was made quickly at a shareholders meeting in central London. Moved to the top of the agenda, the vote was confirmed minutes after the last delegates had entered the building. Along with City, Newcastle, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest voted against the measures.

The result has no direct relation to the other dispute involving City; the 130 charges of breaching Premier League rules that are being heard in a city-wide court and remain the The most seismic legal battle in league history.. The city denies all allegations. But the result sends a signal about the clubs' willingness to tolerate continued infighting. The league won the vote more strongly than expected, with both Wolves and Chelsea expressing support for the new rules despite having voted against previous changes when they were presented earlier this year.

The APT rules relate to agreements clubs make with companies that have related property. The city filed a legal challenge to the rules this year after adjustments were made to how to evaluate such agreements. The court found that three aspects of the rules were unlawful, the most important of which related to interest-free loans given to clubs by their owners. The court ruled that such agreements should now be considered APT transactions. The Premier League believes its new rules have effectively addressed the tribunal's concerns.

City did not speak at the meeting, but Chelsea and Manchester United did, and United chief executive Omar Berrada expressed his club's position. Berrada was City's chief operating officer until earlier this year.

“In a first division At today's shareholders meeting, the clubs approved changes to the League's associated party transaction (APT) rules,” reads a league statement. “The Premier League has carried out detailed consultation with clubs, informed by multiple opinions from expert and independent lawyers, to draft rule changes that address the required amendments to the system.

“This relates to the integration of the assessment of shareholder loans, the removal of some of the amendments made to the APT rules earlier this year and changes to the process by which relevant information from the 'bank 'data' from the league is shared with a club's advisors.

“The purpose of the APT rules is to ensure that clubs cannot benefit from commercial agreements or cost reductions that are not at fair market value (FMV) by virtue of relationships with Associated Parties. “These rules were introduced to provide a robust mechanism to safeguard the financial stability, integrity and competitive balance of the league.”