Richard Masters makes emergency Premier League vow after Man City spat with Man United involved

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has not put an imminent timeline on making changes to associated party transaction (APT) rules despite a legal battle with Manchester City showing current (and previous) legislation to be unlawful.

In a ruling released earlier this week, both City and the Premier League attempted to claim significant wins during the complex case. It runs parallel to the higher profile 115 charges trial which remains ongoing.

A war of statements released by the two sides followed, with City hitting back at the league's reaction, reportedly putting their own point across to rival clubs that an attempt to 'mislead' had been made. The reigning champions are also described as calling for no 'knee jerk' responses to be made.

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It came after the league suggested quick rule changes would be made. "The Premier League welcomes the Tribunal’s findings, which endorsed the overall objectives, framework and decision-making of the APT system," a statement with an opposing tone to the City's read.

"The Tribunal upheld the need for the APT system as a whole and rejected the majority of Manchester City’s challenges. Moreover, the Tribunal found that the Rules are necessary in order for the League’s financial controls to be effective."

Importantly, it finished: "The Tribunal did, however, identify a small number of discrete elements of the Rules which do not, in their current form, comply with competition and public law requirements (more information below). These elements can quickly and effectively be remedied by the League and clubs.

"In the meantime, the Premier League will continue to operate the existing APT system, taking into account the findings made by the Tribunal." Masters has since written to the 20 league members, explaining that there will be no rush to make amendments.

“There have been many club conversations over recent days, with constructive and informative feedback provided," he said in an email, as reported by the BBC. “Also, thank you to those who provided information on shareholder loans. We now have a comprehensive set of information and data which is helping to inform our recommended approach and rule amendment drafting.

"We will circulate these to clubs when fully considered and ready, which may impact on the scheduling of our planned meetings with financial controls and legal advisory groups, and all clubs next week."

The Financial Controls Advisory Group and Legal Advisory Group had been due to meet on Tuesday with an emergency full league meeting two days later.

On Monday it was made public that City's argument suggesting current APT regulations were discriminatory against Gulf states was false - according to an independent panel - but other rules relating to shareholder loans and the current financial framework were not compliant with European competition law.

Despite the league itself earning significant individual victories within the wider legal battle, City's few clear positive results still leave no choice but for newly written financial goalposts. Ultimately, they successfully argued that APT rules - which are designed to stop inflated sponsorship deals between clubs and companies with links to owners being passed through - were 'procedurally unfair.'

City had been barred from significant sponsorship deals in recent times. The league tightened restrictions shortly after Newcastle's Saudi Arabia-backed takeover was completed. City could now claim compensation but the outcome is not expected to impact the 115 charges trial massively, if at all.

However, they were unable to prove that there is no room for the rules at all, hence one of the many avenues the league itself is promoting a technical triumph. Chelsea, Newcastle, and Everton are said to have supported City's argument.

Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, and a handful of other sides were in favour of the Premier League position.