Aston Villa chief explains decision to throw support behind Man City in fight against Premier League over financial rule changes

Manchester City are embroiled in a legal battle with the Premier League over proposed changes to Associated Party Transactions (APT) rules. The Cityzens have written to the other 19 Premier League clubs to express their concerns about amendments that have been proposed to the rules governing commercial deals and have found support at Aston Villa.

Clubs are to vote on Friday over changes to financial rules, with the Premier League needing 14 of the 20 clubs to vote in favour for the changes to pass. Sawiris has spoken out ahead of Friday's crucial summit and explained why he will be voting with Manchester City and against the Premier League.

Sawiris said in a statement to The Telegraph: "We will be voting against the proposed APT rules. In our view, a vote in 90 days on amended terms taking into consideration the tribunal’s findings will have a significantly greater chance of securing the unanimous support of all 20 Premier League clubs.

"Crucially, a unanimous vote will present a fresh start for an embattled Premier League that began with the failed attempt to launch a Super League in 2021. With the imminent arrival of the Government’s independent football regulator, it is more important than ever that the Premier League can present itself to the regulator with a united front. In our view, this will be far more easily achieved if the APT vote is held in February and supported unanimously by all clubs.

"It is noteworthy that legal bills to date on this matter have already reached astronomical amounts; further challenges and escalation of these fees could be avoided through reaching consensus. Ultimately, a unanimous vote will showcase the emergence of a new era of clubs who can compete vigorously on the pitch but work together to strengthen the Premier League and its global appeal.”

Villa also issued a separate letter to the Premier League, calling for Friday's vote to be postponed. The club wrote: "It is now abundantly clear that any vote (if passed) will result in immediate further litigation by Manchester City FC and an associated defence by the EPL [English Premier League], incurring material further costs and unnecessary distraction and devotion of time to this issue. It is highly likely that the tribunal will conclude within the coming three months, and that an APT rule that takes into consideration the tribunal’s verdict will be supported by all clubs and cannot be contested."

The vote is still set to go ahead on Friday at a league meeting in central London with the result said to be on a "knife edge".