Manchester City have confirmed in an official statement that they have reached a settlement with the Premier League regarding the Associated Party Transaction (APT) case, while the club continues to face 115 separate charges related to alleged financial breaches.
The statement, released through the club’s official channels yesterday, marks a significant development in the ongoing legal battles between the reigning Premier League champions and the league’s governing body.
“Manchester City Football Club can confirm that it has reached a settlement agreement with the Premier League regarding the Associated Party Transaction regulations,” the statement read. “This settlement is independent of and has no bearing on the ongoing proceedings related to the 115 charges brought against the club in February 2023.”
The APT regulations were introduced by the Premier League to ensure commercial deals between clubs and entities associated with their owners represent fair market value, preventing artificially inflated sponsorship arrangements that could circumvent financial rules.
Legal experts suggest this settlement could involve financial penalties and potentially revised valuations of certain commercial partnerships, though specific details remain confidential as per the agreement.
Premier League CEO Richard Masters offered brief comments: “We can confirm a settlement has been reached regarding one aspect of our ongoing regulatory matters with Manchester City. The league remains committed to enforcing its financial regulations fairly and consistently across all member clubs.”
The more significant case involving 115 charges of alleged financial breaches spanning a nine-year period from 2009 to 2018 continues to progress through the legal system. These charges include allegations of failing to provide accurate financial information, details of manager and player payments, and compliance with UEFA’s Financial Fair Play regulations.
City have consistently denied any wrongdoing regarding these charges, with club chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak previously stating they welcome the opportunity to present “irrefutable evidence” of their compliance with regulations.
Football finance analyst Stefan Reynolds commented: “The settlement of the APT case could be seen as City picking their battles carefully. The 115 charges represent a far more significant threat to the club, potentially carrying severe penalties if proven, including points deductions or even relegation in the most extreme scenario.”
City supporters’ groups have expressed cautious relief at the settlement of one aspect of the ongoing disputes but remain anxious about the outcome of the larger case, which is expected to reach a conclusion sometime in 2026.
Comments
Post a Comment