'Future of Premier League at stake' | Man City 'launch legal action' against EPL

huge news reported by the times last night Manchester City they say are suing the Premier League over its Financial regulations yeah the legal action is seen as unprecedented and the hearing will begin next week According to some well this has jeopardized the future of English football while it might also impact City's own hearing over those 115 alleged breaches of financial rules well less than three weeks ago city of course lifted their fourth premier league title in a row but they claim they are at a disadvantage because of the Premier League's Associated party transaction rules these regulations mean commercial deals with companies linked to club Owners have to be independently assessed to ensure they are a fair market value well the times are reporting that City have submitted a 165 page legal document in which they accuse rival clubs of discrimination against Gulf ownership they argue that sponsors linked to club Owners should be allowed to determine how much they want to pay regardless of independent Value City and now also seeking damages from the Premier League well like I said a minute ago the hearing will begin on Monday and is expected to last around two weeks the Premier League's 19 other clubs have been invited to participate and the times understands between 10 and 12 have stepped forward with at least one submitting a witness statement in support of city and more than half siding with the Premier League well City argued that they are the victims of discrimination they claim the rules are designed to stifle their success on the pitch claiming this is the tyranny of the majority these Associated party transaction rules were introduced in 2021 that was after the Saudi Le takeover of Newcastle United 18 Premier League clubs voted in for these rules City abstained on that vote well City also want changes to the current voting system for the Premier League's regulations currently 14 clubs need to vote in favor for a motion to pass the times have also reported that City's own hearing over 115 alleged breaches of financial rules will be heard in November and last six weeks long City have denied all wrongdoing really you should spend what you earn so if you can earn more you can spend more what happens now is that independent Auditors make sure that the deal is fair market value so what that connected business is paying you is the market value it's not paying an inflated sum so you are not getting round the rules and putting more money into your own club I think the majority of clubs are in favor of the rules as they are but I think it's pretty close and according to Matt Lon in the times uh the Premier League have asked the other clubs to get involved in this case uh for instance by providing witness statements and Matt believes that between 10 and 12 clubs have backed the Premier League Manchester City have been accused of breaking uh the Premier League's Financial rules uh from 2009 to 2018 they of course insist that they have done absolutely nothing wrong and they will be defending themselves uh at this hearing but some of those charges are to do with sponsorship deals with Associated parties so if Manchester City can win this case next week and prove that these rules are unlawful then you would think that that would blow a pretty big hole in the Premier League's case when it comes to a lot of the charges well this legal action has seen as potentially seismic and was discussed in depth on Back Pages tonight last night Henry Winter believes that the future of the Premier League is at stake some of the the phrases is that City and their lawyers have been throwing throwing around the the tyranny of the majority they uh they call it uh which is an old John Stewart Mill phrase which actually means uh the you know the oppressing of smaller groups now I don't think anyone would look on Manchester City as the oppressed so I just find this very strange we know that the lawyers the winners are going to be the lawyers in all this and maybe this is just simply a Counter Strike because they're wanting to uh either distract or uh Place pressure on the Premier League as they head towards the uh the big date later this year on the 115 charges City deny all uh all allegations against them but this just reeks if this case goes through I'm sorry but it brings down absolutely everything the league would be in tatters and and frankly it would be left yeah with with almost a bit of a shell without much Sal I have to say I think a really really worrying development I don't I can't believe that too many right-minded City fans would be on board with this I mean listen I love Manchester City and the way that they play the way that they set up their teams Pep Guardiola the best manager you know of all time almost um and it's wonderful to see but the off the field stuff this stuff is just honestly it leaves you shaking your head in absolute despair it's a really really worrying development I must say I just hope that uh the right-minded club actually get together and you know star down uh City and the Premier League stand up to this because the future of the Premier Leagues at stake here and that's not hyperbole to say that this is just potentially so damaging and what is sad is that we should be celebrating Manchester City's season and the Fantastic football they played and celebrating the joys of Phil foden and and doku and all these players they've got the Brilliance of Pep Guardiola not simply in winning games but that his philosophy how he's changed football at all levels with all his tactical Innovations and yet now Manchester City are being just associated with greed we always say about the Premier League is the best in the world you know one team can beat another on any given day that's what we're fighting to maintain here that's at the heart of this and that's I think the message that has to be you know portrayed within that room at the Premier League AGM on Thursday it's vital that we keep the Premier League competitive entertaining and watchable and and I have to say you know if some of these cases um sort of succeed it will open the floodgates for more and we will lose the the beauty of the Premier League [Music]