Premier League clubs have voted to approve significant changes to the Associated Party Transaction (APT) regulations, despite opposition from a few clubs, including Manchester City, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, and Aston Villa. The vote took place during a meeting in London on Friday, where the clubs deliberated and took under 30 minutes to approve the changes. Out of the 20 Premier League clubs, 16 voted in favor of the modifications, while four, including Manchester City and Aston Villa, opposed the changes. In a bid to garner support, both Manchester City and Aston Villa had previously written letters to rival clubs before the meeting. To pass the changes, at least 14 Premier League clubs needed to vote in favor, which was successfully achieved.
The changes to the APT regulations come after an independent panel ruled earlier this year that certain aspects of the Premier League’s rules were unlawful. This ruling followed a lawsuit filed by Manchester City, which challenged the Premier League's regulations. The APT rules were initially introduced to ensure fairness in commercial and sponsorship deals, particularly preventing clubs from engaging in transactions with companies linked to their owners that might be considered to exceed “fair market value.” The updated rules are designed to address concerns around the integrity of these commercial deals and ensure that clubs do not benefit unfairly from them.
The Premier League confirmed that the changes involve integrating shareholder loans into the assessment process and eliminating some amendments made to the APT rules earlier this year. In a statement, the Premier League clarified that the primary goal of the APT rules is to prevent clubs from profiting from commercial agreements or cost reductions that are not in line with fair market value, particularly when these deals are tied to the owners of the clubs. The meeting also saw representatives from Chelsea and Manchester United actively support the changes, urging other clubs to vote in favor. Sources close to the situation revealed that Chelsea and Manchester United’s representatives emphasized the importance of passing these changes to maintain the integrity of the Premier League. Interestingly, Manchester City’s representative did not speak during the meeting, signaling their continued opposition to the modifications. The vote's outcome indicates that the majority of Premier League clubs favor the changes, which are expected to bring greater transparency and fairness to commercial dealings within the league.
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