Settlement Confirmed: Premier League and Manchester City Close Legal Dispute | OneFootball

Settlement Confirmed: Premier League and Manchester City Close Legal Dispute | OneFootball

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·8 September 2025

Settlement Confirmed: Premier League and Manchester City Close Legal Dispute

Article image:Settlement Confirmed: Premier League and Manchester City Close Legal Dispute

Club accepts APT rules as binding after long-running legal battle

Settlement Confirmed: Premier League and Manchester City Close Legal Dispute


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Manchester City've reached settlement with the Premier League ending their high profile dispute over sponsorship regulations.

The Dispute Over APT Rules

City'd taken legal action against the league claiming that the Associated Party Transaction APT rules .. which regulate deals with companies linked to club owners .. were "unlawful".

Introduced in 2022, these rules aim to prevent inflated sponsorship agreements that could give certain clubs unfair financial advantage.

Settlement Terms and Resolution

As part of the settlement, City formally acknowledged that the current APT rules remain valid and enforceable. A joint statement confirmed:

"The Premier League & Man City have reached settlement regarding the arbitration process initiated earlier this year. Both parties have agreed to end the dispute. As part of the settlement, City recognises the current APT rules as binding"

The statement also clarified that no further comments will be made by either the club or the league.

Background & Wider Context

In 2024 .. independent tribunal'd ruled against certain aspects of the APT framework following City’s legal challenge.

However in November of the same year .. a majority of PL clubs voted in favour of amending the rules despite City’s opposition.

This settlement closes 1 chapter in City’s legal battles with the league even as wider investigations into the club’s financial conduct continue to attract attention.

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