Premier League slammed for 'clinging to absolute secrecy' over Man City ruling as leading sports lawyer fires 'reputation' warning

City had challenged potential changes to the associated party transaction (APT) rules, which would have seen tougher regulation of sponsorship deals for Premier League clubs. However, a vote to amend the rules was withdrawn from this week's meeting, which led some to believe City had won their legal challenge. The speculation led to Nick de Marco KC, the lawyer who proceeded over cases for Leicester against the Premier League, to demand more transparency over the situation.

A two-week private arbitration hearing took place in June over APT rules, which aim to ensure sponsorship and revenue deals are conducted at a fair market value. Clubs voted to approve tougher rules in February but the motion was challenged by City. Premier League chief executive Richard Masters is understood to have told clubs on Thursday that a number of rules were not going to be voted on due to various feedbacks from clubs ahead of the meeting.

Posting on his Twitter account, De Marco wrote: "Everyone is now speculating about the alleged outcome of the MCFC v PL Rule X arbitration, and who might have won what. But nobody can know what the result is (if indeed there has been one) or how it was reached, because the PL cling on to absolute secrecy. It does their reputation no good at all, at a time the govt. is considering the powers of a new independent football regulator, to keep such important matters of football regulation, that effect the whole competition, secret. If there is a decision of the very learned panel, it should now be published."

The legal battle between City and the Premier League is set to continue and a resolution over the APT ruling is set to be announced in the coming days. However, City's case regarding their 115 charges of breaches to financial rulings is still being discussed and an outcome is not expected for a number of months.