Revealed: How Chelsea, Man Utd, Liverpool and other Premier League clubs sided in Man City APT case

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Released documents show that several sides provided evidence in this complex case.

Manchester City’s seismic Premier League case related to Associated Party Transaction (APT) laws, will have long-lasted ramifications for both parties.

But it’s not just City and the Premier League who have fallen down on either side of this debate, as have several of the division’s top clubs.

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In the landmark case, the Premier League’s own rules surrounding APT were deemed to violate UK competition law, with City claiming a major victory and that the laws were ‘structurally unfair’. Conversely, the Premier League state the changes needed to the APT rules are minor and point to the fact that the majority of the club’s challenges were rejected and that the APT system remains in place.

Both sides called witnesses in defence of their position during the case, which was heard over the summer. Documents released by the Premier League showed where the allegiances of several clubs lie.

Chelsea, Newcastle United and Everton were all called as witnesses by City, while Newcastle also gave a written statement in evidence. Interestingly, the Magpies and Chelsea - like City - have links to countries from the Gulf region, which was a key component in the case. As for Everton, they feel aggrieved at recent Premier League decision-making, in particular the double points deductions from last season.

As for the respondent - the Premier League - they called up written statements from Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United as evidence. Brighton & Hove Albion were also called as a witness.

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Brentford, Bournemouth, Fulham, and Wolverhampton Wanderers also gave evidence in favour of the APT, but were not called to give evidence for or against.

It is interesting to note that the majority of those in favour of the Premier League’s case are City’s closest rivals in the league, the sides who would benefit most from their demise.

City’s case against the Premier League is separate to the ongoing 115 charges, which has been brought against the club. That is currently in its third of a 10-week hearing.

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