Man City ‘will lose Premier League legal battle’ as ex-PL CEO provides theory behind Cityzens’ unprecedented challenge

In an effort to abolish the Associated Party Transaction (APT) regulations, which the Premier League champions believe are illegal, Man City have filed an unprecedented lawsuit against the Premier League. City have expressed their desire to have these regulations repealed as they are ‘anti-competition’ and go against the United Kingdom’s Business Law.

Man City are also embroiled in a separate legal issue as they are currently under investigation by the Premier League regarding 115 charges of financial irregularities in their submission starting from 2009. Wyness believes that the eight-time Premier League winners have only taken the league to court to distract from the main investigation into the 155 charges.

Speaking to Fooball Insider, Wyness, CEO at Everton between 2004 and 2009, said: “I don’t think they’re going to be successful with this new challenge. It’s based around competition law, and it’ll be very hard for the arbitrator to come out and say that the rules which have been in place since 1992 are anti-competitive.

“They use the phrase ‘tyranny of the majority’, referring to the fact that two-thirds of the clubs have to vote something through. I just don’t get that. It sounds like democracy, a very fair way to do it. And that’s been proven over years, producing the best league in the world. I don’t think the arbitrator will find against the Premier League at this stage.

“But it’s going to take up more resources, more time, and distract from the 115 charges City face. My cynical view is that it’s a distraction from those charges. It’s a very dangerous road they’re going down. It’s exploding the whole voting system in the Premier League. It really is a frustrating position to be in.”

The legal proceedings regarding the APT rules will take place over a two-week legal hearing starting on June 10. The hearing on the 115 charges, on the other hand, is likely to take many more months, with Premier League CEO Richard Masters revealing that a date is already set for the hearing.