Man City accuse Premier League of 'distorting the rules in Arsenal's favour

Manchester City have launched a fresh legal challenge against the Premier League, accusing the league of skewing competition to favor rivals Arsenal, Brighton, Everton, and Leicester City. 

In a statement to an independent tribunal in March 2025, City argue that the Premier League’s Associated Party Transaction rules unfairly treat shareholder loans differently from sponsorship deals. They claim clubs like Arsenal (£259 million in 2022-23), Brighton (£406.5 million in 2021-22), Everton (£450 million in 2022-23), and Leicester (£265 million in 2021-22) have benefited from massive owner loans without the same fair market value checks applied to City’s sponsorships. This, they say, distorts competition and discriminates against them.

This follows a February 2025 tribunal ruling that struck down the original APT rules as void, after City contested blocked sponsorships with Abu Dhabi firms. The Premier League revised the rules in November 2024, with 16 clubs voting yes and City among the four dissenters. Yet City insists the changes still favor loan heavy clubs and fail to fix the imbalance, pushing for a return to pre 2021 regulations.

see also: In Nigeria, Actor and filmmaker "Funke Akindele" Faces Allegations of Underpayment by Fellow Actor Ijoba Lande.

The dispute is separate from the ongoing case over 115 to 130 financial breach charges against City from 2009 to 2018, which wrapped up in December 2024, with a verdict due soon. City’s latest move, detailed in documents sent to all 20 clubs, underscores their frustration with what they see as unequal treatment. Journalist Matt Lawton broke the story, highlighting how City believes the Premier League’s financial framework continues to tilt the playing field. 

As the reigning champions face potential dethroning, this legal battle adds another twist to their tumultuous season. The football world watches closely as tensions between City and the league deepen.