The Premier League has approved tough new rules on associated party deals, but Manchester City have reportedly threatened legal action.

Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, northwest England, on December 3, 2023. (Photo by DARREN STAPLES/AFP via Getty Images)
Manchester City’s Spanish manager Pep Guardiola gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, northwest England, on December 3, 2023. (Photo by DARREN STAPLES/AFP via Getty Images)

On Friday, the Premier League confirmed in a statement that their clubs had agreed to a series of amendments to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of their Associated Party Transactions rules and Fair Market Value assessment protocols.

Martyn Ziegler reports that the clubs approved tougher new rules on associated party sponsorship and player transfers by a vote, with 12 votes for the changes, six against, and two abstaining.

But one club is particularly unhappy with the decision. Sky News reports that Arsenal were among those informed on Thursday that another club had told the Premier League it could resort to legal action to prevent the changes.

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 06: Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City gives instructions to Jack Grealish of Manchester City during The FA Community Shield match between Manchester City against Arsenal at Wembley Stadium on August 06, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND: Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City gives instructions to Jack Grealish of Manchester City during The FA Community Shield match between Manchester City against Arsenal at Wembley Stadium on August 06, 2023. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Though it hasn’t been confirmed, Sky report that the speculation is that Manchester City are the club objecting.

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The club in question reportedly told the Premier League that the changes were unlawful.

If it is indeed Manchester City, it wouldn’t be the first time they’d objected to tighter Associated Party Transactions rules.

The club reportedly also voted against restrictions on loan signings between clubs with common ownership in November.

Manchester City's English midfielder Jack Grealish (L) vies with Arsenal's English midfielder Bukayo Saka (R) during the English FA Community Shield football match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium, in London, August 6, 2023. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / NOT FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING USE / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
Manchester City’s English midfielder Jack Grealish (L) vies with Arsenal’s English midfielder Bukayo Saka (R) during the English FA Community Shield football match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium, in London, August 6, 2023. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)

City are part of City Football Group, who also have stakes in Melbourne City, Mumbai City, New York City, Montevideo City Torque, Troyes, Lommel, Girona, Shenzhen Peng City, Yokohama F. Marinos, Palermo, and Bahia.

The Abu Dhabi-owned club are primarily sponsored by Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways.

It’s a total mystery why they would have any issue with the changes.

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