At the beginning of October Manchester City had a ‘win‘ over the Premier League. In their hearing over the Premier League’s Associated Party Transaction (APT) rules, a section of the rules was found to be unlawful. Since that moment the story has continued to fester away in the background. Now, a new report has emerged surrounding the affair. Following the new report just as much uncertainty surrounding the Premier League’s APT rules remains. In my opinion, the point is still being missed by the Premier League regarding their APT rules.
Mike Keegan has provided an update on the story for the Daily Mail. Keegan reports that Manchester City have written to the other 19 Premier League clubs stating that the Premier League’s proposed changes to the APT rules remain unlawful. In his piece, Keegan reports that the Premier League have responded to Manchester City’s claim by stating that City have made “repeated and baseless assertions…that the league acted in a way contrary to its obligations as a regulator or has “misled” clubs.” Mike Keegan’s report details the entire episode in full detail and can be viewed by clicking the attached link.
The Premier League is missing the point and can’t force through amended APT rules until the affair is finally resolved.
Keegan’s report details the continuing tensions between Manchester City and the Premier League. They show no sign of ending anytime soon. With this case and City’s ‘115 case’ rumbling away, there is no end in sight to the legal battles between the Premier League and their champions.
But for me, the Premier League continues to miss the point. Instead of letting the case play out the Premier League has engaged in a public relations war with Manchester City. The simple fact is this aids no one. To put it simply, a section of the Premier League’s APT rules was found to be unlawful. That’s the story, it has been since the verdict was announced in October.
The Premier League can’t continue throwing assertions around while a section of its rules was found to be unlawful. They must regulate the game and that’s it. It is meant to do that by implementing a set of lawful rules. It’s that simple. Rushing through a new set of APT rules that may have similar holes in them serves no one. It could see the game back in the same position it finds itself currently if that is the path that is taken. Legal ‘battles’ between the Premier League and its clubs are counter productive. They’re costly and harm the product. It’s about time the Premier League saw it that way.
As per Mike Keegan’s report, Manchester City has said they are ‘strongly in favour of robust, effective and lawful regulation of related party transactions’. But they are against the Premier League rushing in a new set of rules until the independent tribunal has dealt with the matter. That’s the way it should be. But will it play out that way? That remains to be seen. But the Premier League’s willingness to push on with the matter suggests it may not.
Summary
Truth be told the endless stories and updates over Manchester City’s ‘battles’ with the Premier League are becoming tiresome. The hope is that the day is coming when they are all a thing of the past. Preferably sooner rather than later.
But the Premier League can’t continue to wage this ‘war’ with Manchester City. In the end it serves no one. The Premier League should be focusing on implementing a set of APT rules that are lawful above all else. They appear to be missing that point as the PR battle rages on.
