Premier League source’s telling comment on APT case amid claims Man City have already secured a ‘victory’ in club’s legal challenge

A Premier League source has commented on the Associated Party Transaction Rules (APT) case amid claims Manchester City have scored a ‘victory’ in their legal battle against the league.

Man City are currently contesting their 115 charges with the Premier League in court, but they have also been involved in a separate battle over APT regulations.

The APT rules were introduced in 2021 after Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund bought Newcastle United and are designed to limit how much associated parties can pay clubs in sponsorship.

A vote on potential rule amendments involving all 20 clubs was set to take place at a meeting on Thursday.

However, it was pulled last minute at the request of several clubs in what has been described as a ‘victory’ for Man City.

A vote on the issue may now take place at the next club meeting in November.

“The Premier League’s attempts to keep the peace appeared to backfire however, when a narrative soon emerged that parking the amendment indicated that the league had lost the APT case, or significant elements of it, to City,” per a report from The i.

Pep Guardiola and Khaldoon Al Mubarak celebrate Manchester City’s Premier League triumph last season. Image: Getty

The report adds: “The logic behind this view appeared to be that that the Premier League had concluded it pointless to make a single amendment to the APT rules if a more substantial change would soon be needed following a City victory, although this theory was soon quashed.”

A source at one club said: “The APT rules remain in place and will continue to be, as far as we know.”

Only a select group of people at Man City, the Premier League and members of the panel know the outcome, which will remain the case unless its handbook is updated.