Former Crystal Palace owner and current pundit Simon Jordan has weighed in on the recent controversy surrounding Manchester City and the Premier League’s Associated Party Transaction (APT) rules. While Jordan agrees with City’s resistance to the rules, he has criticized both the club and the league for their communication and confrontational attitude towards each other.
The Premier League recently held a vote regarding the APT rules, with City receiving backing from Aston Villa, who even wrote to the Premier League requesting the vote to be cancelled. This move came after a legal case between City and the Premier League last month, where both parties claimed victory. However, the vote on the rule changes did not go in City’s favor, as 16 teams voted in favor of the new rules, with 14 needed to pass.
The Premier League confirmed the changes to the APT rules in a statement, addressing the findings of an arbitration tribunal following City’s legal challenge earlier this year. Jordan expressed his thoughts on the matter, highlighting the confrontational nature of the communication between City and the Premier League. He emphasized the need for transparency from City in response to allegations and criticized the current landscape of football ownership.
Jordan mentioned that new money in football has created a situation where clubs like City and Newcastle are suffering due to the changing ownership models. He also pointed out that the Premier League itself is anti-competitive, with the majority of revenue going to a small number of clubs. This, in his view, contributes to the overall lack of transparency and governance in football.
Overall, Jordan’s comments shed light on the complexities of the current football landscape, where ownership models and financial power play a significant role in shaping the sport. The ongoing debate surrounding the APT rules and City’s resistance to them reflects larger issues within football governance that need to be addressed for the benefit of the sport as a whole.
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