Chelsea 'provide statement' in Man City legal battle with Prem as trio support rule change

Manchester City are being backed by Chelsea, Aston Villa, and Newcastle United as they prepare their groundbreaking legal action against the Premier League. On Tuesday, it was announced that the champions were taking action against the authorities over the current associated party transactions (APT) rules, which restricts the commercial revenue that clubs can receive from a company they have a connection to.

In a bombshell statement, City representatives said the current system was due to ‘discrimination’ against clubs with owners from the Middle East and signified a ‘tyranny of the majority’.

The rules were introduced following the Saudi Newcastle takeover in November 2021.

A two-week hearing, which could hugely alter the landscape for top-flight clubs, gets underway on Monday. The case is completely separate from the 115 charges City face for allegedly breaching Financial Fair Play regulations.

According to the Daily Mail, rivals Chelsea have backed Khaldoon Al Mubarak’s club in their bid to seek damages from the Premier League. The London club have a sponsorship agreement with Infinite Athlete, a company that lists the club’s joint owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali among its investors.

Chelsea are said to have submitted their own statement disputing APT rules. They have reportedly argued that more clarity is needed over the process when it comes to multi-club ownership.

The backing of Villa and Newcastle also comes as little surprise. Villa co-owner Nassef Sawiris, from Egypt, is a close ally as Al Mubarak and is also said to be frustrated at his club’s transfer revenue being restricted.

Newcastle bosses are also still reeling by the delay in their takeover process. The saga became notorious after the deal was initially blocked, with the Saudi PIF fund making allegations of improper conduct against top flight bosses.

However between 10 and 12 clubs are also said to have submitted their backing to the Premier League. Manchester United reportedly lead a group of clubs who have provided witness statements or letters.

In addition, City are also challenging the Premier League rule that 14 clubs have to agree to a proposal before it can be made into a regulation. In recent years, clubs have voted in favour of notions like extra substitutions and implementing VAR.

Last month, City secured their fourth straight league title under Pep Guardiola. It was the club’s seventh top flight crown since Al Mubarak’s takeover in 2009.