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Man City have reportedly dealt the Premier League a huge defeat in a fight over associated party transactions (APT) after rules prohibiting them were deemed unlawful
And Liverpool were one of seven clubs who gave evidence on behalf of the league, according to a report by The Times.
City claimed they were blocked from completing two huge deals by rules introduced in 2021, which a panel of three retired judges found were unlawful
That was after it was adjudged by the panel that the rules didn't take into account interest-free loans which shareholders lend to clubs, of which Liverpool have around £71m worth.
Reds owners FSG have long been supporters of rules such as PSR as they have wanted a level playing field, but this ruling could have major ramifications for the Premier League.
Liverpool owner John Henry told the ECHO in 2023:
“You are right that there are ever-increasing financial challenges in the Premier League.
“The league itself is extraordinarily successful and is the greatest football competition in the world, but we’ve thought for some time there should be limits on spending so that the league doesn’t go the way of European leagues where one or two clubs annually have little competition.
“Excitement depends on competition and is the most important component of the Premier League.”
City should now be able to strike bigger commercial deals with partners such as Etihad
the door is theoretically open for Newcastle to strike deals with Saudi partners
APT rules were brought in after that takeover to prevent clubs from inflating the value of deals with partner companies to circumvent PSR.
And City successfully argued that the rules were unlawful in light of other clubs taking interest-free loans from shareholders.
The judgement was reportedly submitted in a 175-page document to both City and the Premier League, before being communicated to the other 19 clubs today.
City have since released a statement confirming their victory.
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