Premier League to update APT rule proposals after clubs meet

The Premier League will update its proposals around rules governing commercial deals after a meeting of top-flight clubs on Tuesday.

It was the first meeting of the 20 clubs since the verdict in Manchester City’s legal case against the Premier League over the league’s associated party transaction (APT) rules was announced earlier this month.

APT rules are in place to ensure sponsorship deals with companies linked to clubs’ owners represent fair market value.

City had some complaints upheld, with two aspects of the rules deemed unlawful by the tribunal.

The tribunal said low-interest shareholder loans should not be excluded from the scope of APT rules, and that changes made in February to toughen up the regulations also breached competition law.

The Premier League is hopeful it can get an agreement from clubs on the new rules in the short to medium term, but City do not share the view that the matter can be resolved fairly quickly.

There was never an intention to hold a vote at Tuesday’s meeting.

Premier League chiefs used the meeting, which officials attending said lasted just over an hour, to outline the situation from their perspective.

The league will now use the feedback to update its proposals and recirculate to the clubs. Privately, it has been suggested this could be done in a matter of days.

However, the whole issue will not be clarified until the league holds a vote, which would require 14 clubs to vote in favour.

League officials were not able to offer a timescale on that but agreed this could be over the short to medium term.

The next Premier League shareholders meeting is due to take place in the middle of November, although adequate time would have to be allowed beforehand if a vote was to take place then.