What APT settlement means for Manchester City’s 115 charges verdict | OneFootball

Manchester City have terminated proceedings and settled a dispute over the Premier League’s Associated Party Transaction (APT) rules this week.

The proceedings, which began earlier this year, has culminated in Manchester City accepting that the Premier League’s existing APT rules are valid and binding, with the club and league agreeing to making no further statement over the truce.

City return to Premier League action on Sunday as they welcome fierce rivals Manchester United to the Etihad Stadium in search of their second league win of the campaign, having lost their last two games against Tottenham and Brighton.

The club remained embroiled in a long-standing dispute with the Premier League over the alleged 115 breaches of the league’s Financial Fair Play rules during a nine-year period between 2009-18.

Manchester City were first charged by the Premier League for the alleged breaches in February 2023, which far from deterred those in the dressing room and instead spurred the club to win a historic treble, a third successive league title and a maiden UEFA Champions League title.

However, 18 months on from when City were first charged by the Premier League, a verdict into the independent commission’s hearings – conducted over ten weeks between September-November 2024 – is yet to be made public.

Premier League CEO Richard Masters has called for patience with regards to a verdict, stressing on the need for due diligence to ensure a fair, correct and uphold the integrity of the tribunal process.

The announcement of a settlement between Manchester City and the Premier League over their APT rules dispute has raised a fresh round of questions on when a verdict on Manchester City’s 115 alleged breaches will be made public.

Moreover, after Manchester City’s statement on the termination of APT proceedings went public on Monday, many on social media posed a relevant question on whether the settlement could have any bearing on the nature of the 115 charges verdict.

However, it must be noted that Manchester City’s battle against the Premier League over their alleged 115 breaches – wherein the club strenuously deny all wrongdoing – is completely different to the now-resolved dispute over the league’s APT rules.

City plead innocence with regards to the Premier League’s allegations and a verdict on the case – that was heard over a two-and-a-half-month period in the autumn of 2024 – will be completely independent from the recent resolution of the APT issue.

Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak remained tight-lipped when pressed on the 115 charges battle with the Premier League in an interview in May, but has vowed to address the club’s fanbase when a verdict is made public.