In the sights of the Premier League for potentially committing 115 infractions, Manchester City has decided to counterattack by filing a lawsuit against the English championship. A radical stance that could have significant consequences.
Tensions are running high between Manchester City and the Premier League. Despite clinching 6 titles in the last 7 seasons of the English championship, the Sky Blues are in the eye of the storm. The reason? 115 accusations of violating the regulations and financial rules of the Premier League.
An hearing is scheduled for next Monday and is expected to last two weeks, at the end of which it will be known who has won the showdown between Manchester City and the Premier League. Pep Guardiola’s team risks heavy sanctions such as hefty fines, point deductions for the next season, or even administrative relegation.
While the body governing the English top flight has taken action, the response from the Manchester-based team has quickly followed suit. Indeed, the Sky Blues have decided to retaliate by filing a lawsuit against the Premier League, as revealed by The Times.
The team under Emirati ownership has submitted a 165-page legal document claiming to be a victim of discrimination and has described the imposed rules as “tyranny of the majority,” considering that its rivals pushed for the establishment of these rules to stifle their sporting success. These rules stem from a reform dating back to December 2021, shortly after the acquisition of Newcastle United by Saudi Arabia. They aim to prevent clubs from inflating commercial agreements they have with partners, especially if these partners are linked to the club’s owners.
A schism within the Premier League
A point of contention that makes the conflict even more important for the outcome of the Premier League. If Manchester City were to prevail, it could offer much more leeway to partners in their sponsorship contracts. Without evaluation from the Premier League, this could lead to abuses such as artificially inflated contracts to provide clubs with more financial power. This has led between 10 and 12 Premier League clubs to align with the league, providing evidence and witnesses.
Manchester City has, on the other hand, received support from another club that has sided with them according to the English media. The Mancunians also demand damages for losses incurred due to the rules they consider illegal. The chosen amount includes the share of revenues that did not materialize due to delayed and canceled projects, amounting to several tens of millions of euros. From June 10th to 21st, the Manchester City-Premier League conflict is likely to dominate the headlines and could cause a major upheaval for English football.
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