Aston Villa owner Nassef Sawiris has announced that the club will join Manchester City in opposing proposed amendments to Premier League rules on commercial agreements.
On Friday, Premier League clubs are set to vote on changes to the Associated Party Transaction (APT) regulations during a league meeting.
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Sawiris, recognized as Egypt’s wealthiest individual, called for a “fresh start” in addressing the issue and suggested postponing the vote until February to enhance the likelihood of achieving “unanimous support.”
Manchester City has already expressed strong opposition to the proposed amendments, writing to the other 19 clubs to voice “fundamental concern” and describing the changes as “unlawful.”
The controversy follows an October arbitration panel decision on APTs, with both City and the Premier League claiming aspects of victory.
In a statement to The Telegraph, Sawiris confirmed Aston Villa’s stance, stating the club “would be voting against” the proposed changes.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
Sawiris said it was “more important than ever” for the Premier League to present a “united front” in light of the government’s proposed new football regulator.
He added: “In our view, this will be far more easily achieved if the APT vote is held in February and supported unanimously by all clubs.”
Among the proposed changes to the APT rules, the Premier League wants to make shareholder loans subject to a fair market value assessment as well as reversing amendments made in February.
Sawiris said he is keen to ensure the Premier League avoids any further “astronomical” legal costs.
In an 11-page letter, the Premier League wrote to Manchester City, saying it “rejects in the strongest possible terms the repeated and baseless assertions” that “either the league or its representatives have acted in any way contrary to the league’s obligations as a regulator, or has ‘misled’ clubs.”
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