Manchester City have ramped up their battle with the Premier League after launching a new legal challenge against the division's sponsorship rules, which they consider to be 'unlawful'.

when the majority of top-flight sides voted in favour of changes to the Premier League's Associated Party Transaction (APT) rules following a legal challenge by City last summer.

City only received the backing of three other clubs in the vote, but a new report from says the club's lawyers have now informed the league that they are seeking another arbitration on the matter.

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APT rules are in place to stop clubs from receiving huge amounts of money from companies which are affiliated to them. Last year's independent tribunal found that the existing rules that were in place were unlawful, but City felt that the league had rushed through the case in order to satisfy some of their rivals.

City's request for new arbitration will be overseen by Lord Pannick, the same barrister who is leading their defence against them over 115 charges of alleged breaches of Premier League financial rules.

The Times have published a letter sent by Premier League chief executive Richard Masters to clubs, which states:

“On January 20, 2025, FC began a further arbitration to challenge the APT rules. As you will see, the new challenge relates to the amendments to the APT rules that clubs approved at the 22 November 2024 shareholders’ meeting.

"Manchester City FC seeks a declaration that the amendments approved by clubs in November (and therefore the current APT rules in force) are unlawful and void.

“The Premier League remains strongly of the view that the amendments passed in November were lawful and the APT rules comply with all competition law requirements. We consider that the new arbitration must be resolved as soon as possible and, to that end, have agreed that the same tribunal should be appointed to hear the new case.

"The parties are currently corresponding in relation to further directions. The APT rules remain in full force and effect and clubs remain required to comply with all aspects of the system.”

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