Manchester City fail to stop new Premier League rules over teams’ sponsorship deals being approved despite their legal threat – as three other rebel clubs are named

Premier League clubs have voted for amendments to sponsorship rules, despite strong opposition from Manchester City.

At a crunch summit in London this morning, a ballot was held on changes to regulations on associated party transactions (APTs), which the league had drawn up following a legal challenge from City which found sections of the previous rules to be unlawful.

City had warned that the competition was rushing through the amendments, urged clubs to vote against them and raised the threat of legal action should they be passed.

However, Mail Sport understands that the changes secured 16 votes for and four against – beyond the 14 needed.

It is understood that the four clubs who voted against were Manchester City, Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and Newcastle. 

A Premier League spokesperson said: ‘At a Premier League Shareholders’ meeting today, clubs approved changes to the League’s Associated Party Transaction (APT) rules.

The vote over sponsorship rules – at the centre of a furious battle between the Premier League and Manchester City – came on Friday morning (pictured left – CEO Richard Masters)

It comes after a successful legal challenge by Man City saw the APT rules deemed as ‘unlawful’

Manchester City’s Chief Financial Officer Ingo Bank (pictured) arrives at the shareholders meeting on Friday morning

The amendments to the rules address the findings of an Arbitration Tribunal following a legal challenge by Manchester City to the APT system earlier this year.

‘The Premier League has conducted a detailed consultation with clubs – informed by multiple opinions from expert, independent Leading Counsel – to draft rule changes that address amendments required to the system.

‘This relates to integrating the assessment of Shareholder loans, the removal of some of the amendments made to APT rules earlier this year and changes to the process by which relevant information from the League’s ‘databank’ is shared with a club’s advisors. 

‘The purpose of the APT rules is to ensure clubs are not able to benefit from commercial deals or reductions in costs that are not at Fair Market Value (FMV) by virtue of relationships with Associated Parties. 

‘These rules were introduced to provide a robust mechanism to safeguard the financial stability, integrity and competitive balance of the League.’