Premier League calls emergency meeting with all 20 clubs after Man City tribunal

The Premier League has reportedly invited all 20 clubs to an emergency meeting to discuss the need to change its rules following the outcome of the Manchester City tribunal.

A certain number of complaints from the City were upheld, particularly regarding transactions with associated parties (APT).

The club's lawyers successfully argued that interest-free loans from shareholders to clubs should be included in the APT's regulations, leaving a number of clubs at risk of breaching profit and sustainability rules.

Arsenal are a club now prepared to face ramifications. They are said to have taken out around £200 million in shareholder loans to increase their spending in the transfer market, and now face the prospect of having to quickly balance their books.

The three-man independent panel rejected aspects of City's claims about blocked sponsorship deals. Claims that the Premier League was guilty of “discrimination against Gulf owners” were rejected and the overall concept of ATP regulation was supported by the panel.

In a subsequent statement, the league was defiant, claiming victory in the case and saying any necessary changes could be “corrected quickly and efficiently” by its clubs. “The Premier League welcomes the findings of the Tribunal, which endorsed the overall objectives, framework and decision-making process of the APT system,” they said.

“The Tribunal upheld the need for the APT system as a whole and rejected the majority of Manchester City's challenges. Furthermore, the Tribunal found that the rules are necessary for the League's financial controls to be effective.

“The Court has, however, identified a small number of distinct elements of the rules which do not, in their current form, comply with the requirements of public and competition law. These elements can be corrected quickly and effectively by the League and the clubs .”

At the hearing, Chelsea, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest and Everton all acted as witnesses for Man City. On the contrary, Brighton, West Ham, Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham and Arsenal have all witnessed the Premier League.