Man City find new ally in Aston Villa in 'watershed moment' ahead of landmark Premier League vote on sponsorship rule changes

According to The Times, Villa have taken a definitive stance alongside Manchester City and want the vote against the proposed changes to the Associated Party Transactions (APT), which may significantly influence the financial framework of English football's top flight, to be postponed. City have sent formal communications to the 19 other member clubs, advocating for a postponement of the decision until further clarity is provided and some seem to have responded positively.

City have been actively seeking backing from other clubs to block the rule changes. Villa, Newcastle United, Everton, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Nottingham Forest have previously opposed stricter APT regulations. However, City need seven votes against the proposal to halt its approval.

Villa’s alignment with City is not unexpected, as both clubs have shared similar positions in recent financial rule disputes. Villa’s owner, Nassef Sawiris, has previously criticised PSR as being “anti-competitive,” hinting at broader concerns about the Premier League’s financial governance. In June, Sawiris publicly considered filing a formal complaint against the current PSR structure.

The Premier League’s proposed changes aim to streamline the process of approving substantial sponsorship deals linked to club ownership while maintaining the core principles of the APT regulations. Proponents of the amendments argue they will create a fairer competitive environment while reducing potential abuses of the system. However, the opposition, spearheaded by City, views the proposals as undermining the tribunal’s findings and potentially damaging to clubs with large shareholder investments.

The proposed amendments would reportedly introduce a “retrospective exemption for shareholder loans,” a move City claims could unlawfully impact Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR). In a recent verdict, although an independent tribunal sided with City on key points, it has yet to provide full clarification on the broader status of the APT regulations. Hence, the outcome of Friday’s shareholders' meeting, if voted in favour by 14 clubs, could reshape the financial landscape of English football.