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Manchester City has launched ‘unprecedented’ legal action against the Premier League

The Times claims the outcome could "dramatically alter the landscape of the professional game".

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 5th June 2024

Manchester City has launched what is being described as ‘unprecedented’ legal action against the Premier League over its financial rules.

Merely weeks after becoming the first club in English football history to win the league title four seasons in a row, and ahead of its own 115-charge hearing – which first came to light in February 2023, with City found to have broken Financial Fair Play rules around 100 times over a nine-year period, starting in 2009 and going on until 2018 – The Times exclusively revealed yesterday (4 June) that Manchester City are now taking legal action against the Premier League.

The Manchester club is attempting to end the Premier League’s Associated Party Transaction (ATP) rules, according to The Times and several other major news outlets following.

The rules in question are regarding the football organisation’s commercial and sponsorship deals with companies that are owned or associated with the same club’s owners – known as ‘Associated Parties’.

As things stand, according to Sky News and BBC News, the ATP rules dictate that the Premier League’s board is required to review each club’s transaction with the intent of assessing whether it believes they represent a ‘fair’ market value, and with an overall aim of helping to build “fairness” across the league as a whole.

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According to the Premier League, the ATP rules work to end a “reliance on enhanced commercial revenues linked to the club’s ownership”.

Despite neither Manchester City or the Premier League responding to requests for comment on the widespread reports and hearing, The Times says it has seen a 165-page legal document in which City claim they are victims of “discrimination”, and that the amended rules were approved by its rivals to “stifle” the club’s success on the pitch.

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Manchester City has launched ‘unprecedented’ legal action against the Premier League / Credit: Man City (via Facebook)

The Sky Blues – which are famously owned by City Football Group Ltd, of which the majority owner is the Abu Dhabi United Group, following the takeover in 2008 – have reportedly called the voting system “a tyranny of the majority”.

The legal dispute between City and the Premier League will be settled during a two-week arbitration hearing beginning on Monday 10 June, according to The Times.

The Times’ reporter, Matt Lawton – who wrote the exclusive article – says he believes City’s legal action has “sparked a civil war” among other football clubs.

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The publication also claims the outcome of the hearing could “dramatically alter the landscape of the professional game”.

Featured Image – Lexy Ilsley (via Manchester City)

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Manchester locals appealing for more information over a month after from finding family member’s body

Danny Jones Danny Jones GMP appeal after body of Chorlton man found dead in bedroom

A Greater Manchester family are still calling for more information now over a month on from the discovery of a man’s body at his Chorlton home.

William Riddell, 49, was found dead in the bedroom of a property on Astbury Avenue at approximately 11:35pm on Sunday, 10 November after being found by his stepdaughter, Sarah Hayden.

Details surrounding his passing are still scarce but a 47-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder but has since been released on bail “pending further enquiries”, leaving Sarah and the rest of her family still none the wiser as to the exact nature of his death.

Preparing to spend their first Christmas without him, they have issued a desperate appeal for more information, urging anyone who might have information to come forward.

Riddell, more commonly known as Billy by those close to him, was described as a “good, caring man with a big heart” and a popular figure in the local area.

Speaking via Greater Manchester Police, Sarah, said: “I want to be Billy’s voice and get answers for him. Billy was a nice and lovely man and all the community knew who he was. He was well-liked and we gave him a good send-off at his funeral.

“I would just ask anyone who knew him or has any information to come forward and tell police. Even if you think it’s a little or small thing – please come forward. We just want to get to the bottom of what has happened.”

Detective Inspector Alex Wilkinson, who serves on GMP‘s Major Incident Team, added in an official statement: “The family of Billy deserve answers following his death and we are working hard to ensure they get exactly that.

“We have closely supported Sarah and the wider family over the last month, and we will continue to provide assistance wherever we can as they face their first Christmas without him.

“While a suspect has been bailed, we are still working flat-out to understand more about Billy’s life, the people he was close to, and events leading up to his death just over a month ago.”

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With that in mind, both GMP and Riddell’s family are asking anyone who might know anything or have information regarding people associated with Billy to come forward, reiterating that “even if you consider something to be small – your help could greatly benefit our investigation.”

You can contact police via 101 or by using the live chat function HERE, quoting log 3227 of 10/11/24.

Alternatively, you can contact the UK’s independent charity, Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Greater Manchester Police

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Government aims to ‘turn the tide’ on homelessness with £1 billion funding boost

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Nearly £1 billion of funding is being pumped into Council budgets to help “break the cycle of spiralling homelessness” in 2025.

As part of the Government‘s wider ‘Plan For Change’, and in a bid to help tackle, reduce, and prevent homelessness next year, it’s been announced that more resources will be be made available for workers on the frontline who provide essential services to get rough sleepers off the street and into secure housing.

This significant investment means Councils will now be “better equipped” to step in early and stop households from becoming homeless in the first place.

According to the Government’s plans, these funded measures will include mediation with landlords or families to prevent evictions, helping homeless people find new homes, and providing deposits to access private renting. 

The funding will also be used to address the growing use of B&Bs and nightly-let accommodation, and the streamlining of funding structures to make it easier for Councils to spend their cash.  

Areas across the UK can also choose to channel resources into services such as Housing First.

Housing First has been massively successful in Greater Manchester, and has helped house hundreds of our region’s rough sleepers since it was first piloted, being described as “life-changing” along the way.

More than £633 million of the funding will be allocated for the Homelessness Prevention Grant – which is a £192 million increase from this year – while £185.6 million will go to the Rough Sleeping Prevention and Recovery Grant, more than £37 million to the Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme, and £5 million will be for the Emergency Accommodation Reduction Pilots.

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This new £1 billion funding boost comes after it was announced back in September that Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions will be abolished in England next year as part of the landmark Renters’ Rights Bill.

It will also look to support the Government’s ambition to deliver the biggest increase in social and affordable housing in a generation – with an extra £500 million ploughed into the Affordable Homes Programme to build tens of thousands of affordable homes across the country.  

Featured Image – Gary Knight (via Flickr)

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