15 matches today. Times in UTC ### Brazil - Serie B Londrina EC vs Atletico GO - 18.08.2023 00:00 Vila Nova vs Mirassol - 18.08.2023 02:30 ### INT - Europa League Qualification HJK vs Qarabag FK - 17.08.2023 18:00 Häcken vs Zalgiris Vilnius - 17.08.2023 19:00 Breidablik vs Zrinjski Mostar - 17.08.2023 19:30 BATE Borisov vs FC Sheriff - 17.08.2023 20:00 Genk vs Olympiacos - 17.08.2023 20:00 Ludogorets Razgrad vs FC Astana - 17.08.2023 20:00 SC Dnipro-1 vs Slavia Prague - 17.08.2023 20:00 ### Iran - Persian Gulf Pro League Esteghlal vs Malavan - 17.08.2023 18:00 ### Mexico - Liga MX Apertura Monterrey vs Tijuana - 18.08.2023 01:00 ### Mexico - Liga de Expansion MX Apertura UDG vs Venados - 18.08.2023 01:05 ### Russia - Second League Division A Silver Group First Stage Chertanovo Moscow vs Tekstilshchik - 17.08.2023 16:00 ### Saudi Arabia - Saudi Professional League Damac FC vs Al Riyadh - 17.08.2023 17:00 Al Khaleej vs Al Ahli - 17.08.2023 20:00 Data from fotmob.com

52 matches today. Times in UTC ### Argentina - Cup Talleres vs Colon - 30.08.2023 19:00 Argentinos Juniors vs San Martin San Juan - 30.08.2023 21:15 San Lorenzo vs Belgrano - 30.08.2023 23:30 ### Brazil - Serie B Novorizontino vs Ituano FC - 31.08.2023 00:00 ### England - EFL Cup Chelsea vs Wimbledon - 30.08.2023 20:45 Harrogate Town vs Blackburn - 30.08.2023 20:45 Nottm Forest vs Burnley - 30.08.2023 20:45 Sheff Utd vs Lincoln - 30.08.2023 20:45 Doncaster vs Everton - 30.08.2023 21:00 ### Finland - Veikkausliiga FC Lahti vs FC Inter Turku - 30.08.2023 17:00 ### Germany - Regionalliga Southwest FCA Walldorf vs FSV Frankfurt - 30.08.2023 19:00 Hessen Kassel vs Eintracht Frankfurt II - 30.08.2023 19:00 TuS Koblenz vs Hoffenheim II - 30.08.2023 19:00 ### INT - Champions League Qualification AEK Athens vs Royal Antwerp - 30.08.2023 21:00 FC København vs Rakow Czestochowa - 30.08.2023 21:00 PSV Eindhoven vs Rangers - 30.08.2023 21:00 ### Iceland - Besta deildin FH Hafnarfjordur vs KA Akureyri - 30.08.2023 19:30 ### Iran - Persian Gulf Pro League Zob Ahan vs Havadar SC - 30.08.2023 18:00 Aluminium vs Shams Azar - 30.08.2023 18:30 Foolad vs Persepolis - 30.08.2023 20:00 ### Italy - Serie B Bari vs Cittadella - 30.08.2023 20:30 Catanzaro vs Spezia - 30.08.2023 20:30 Sampdoria vs Venezia - 30.08.2023 20:30 Ternana vs Cremonese - 30.08.2023 20:30 ### Mexico - Liga MX Apertura Toluca vs Monterrey - 31.08.2023 03:00 Querétaro vs Atlas - 31.08.2023 03:06 Tigres vs Santos - 31.08.2023 05:00 ### Mexico - Liga de Expansion MX Apertura Tepatitlan FC vs Cancun FC - 31.08.2023 01:00 Tlaxcala FC vs Celaya - 31.08.2023 03:05 Atletico La Paz vs Cimarrones - 31.08.2023 05:05 ### Poland - Ekstraklasa Pogon Szczecin vs Slask Wroclaw - 30.08.2023 18:30 ### Russia - Cup Grp. A Sochi vs CSKA - 30.08.2023 16:15 ### Russia - Cup Grp. B Rostov vs Lokomotiv - 30.08.2023 18:30 ### Russia - Cup Grp. C Akhmat vs Krylya Sovetov - 30.08.2023 16:15 Baltika vs Zenit - 30.08.2023 18:30 ### United States - Major League Soccer Atlanta United vs Cincinnati - 31.08.2023 01:30 Charlotte FC vs Orlando - 31.08.2023 01:30 Inter Miami CF vs Nashville SC - 31.08.2023 01:30 New England vs NY Red Bulls - 31.08.2023 01:30 NYCFC vs Montreal - 31.08.2023 01:30 Toronto vs Philadelphia - 31.08.2023 01:30 Austin FC vs Seattle Sounders - 31.08.2023 02:30 Chicago vs Vancouver - 31.08.2023 02:30 Houston vs Columbus - 31.08.2023 02:30 Minnesota vs Colorado - 31.08.2023 02:30 St. Louis City vs Dallas - 31.08.2023 02:30 Portland vs Salt Lake - 31.08.2023 04:30 San Jose vs LA Galaxy - 31.08.2023 04:30 ### United States - USL Championship Rio Grande Valley FC vs San Antonio FC - 31.08.2023 02:00 New Mexico United vs Las Vegas Lights FC - 31.08.2023 03:00 Phoenix Rising FC vs Sacramento Republic FC - 31.08.2023 04:30 ### United States - USL League One Richmond Kickers vs Central Valley Fuego FC - 31.08.2023 01:00 Data from fotmob.com

With a 10:3 ratio in support for migrating the community off of lemmy.world as suggested by [@[email protected]](https://sopuli.xyz/u/Blaze) in this [post](https://lemmy.world/post/22907596), we will run a trial period of migrating the community over to [[email protected]](https://lemm.ee/c/football) ### Trial period We will run a trial period of 2 months on lemm.ee to see how stable the instance is. Since all of you who discussed potential instances only had good things to say about the instance, expect the trial period to just be formality though. ### Locking down [email protected] The FootballAutoMod has been configured to automatically lock down any new posts and tell the posters to repost in the new community. While I could lock the community completely, I think this solution might help inform those of you who maybe don't check in on the community regularly. ### Why lemm.ee It's a moderately large EU-based instance with little to no drama as far as I know. The admin team seems to be competent and maintains a neutral stance with few defederations across the fediverse. The instance also got multiple recommendations amongst our users.

Understand Everton and Galatasaray are both informed on conditions of the deal, while Saudi clubs are also keeping tabs on Moussa situation.

The crossover nobody expected

Thought I'd post this here. My football team have been going through tough times recently due to the behaviour of our owner, Ron Martin. We were facing a winding up petition with HMRC over unpaid tax bills, as well as being under transfer embargo and staff not being paid for 3 months. There's now a good chance the National League will throw us out as we're 3 weeks away from the beginning of the season and are having to cancel friendlies. Despite Ron putting the club up for sale, a potential deal with new buyers seems to have stalled, with speculation that Ron's terms aren't favourable (he owns both the current ground and the proposed new ground). The club has over 100 years of history and it's heartbreaking that it might all go down the shitter because of one man's greed.

This is just a quick thought. Over the past few years we saw a new kind of 10 as the dominant force, the athletic pressing physical player. Your Mason Mounts and Connor Gallaghers etc. Players who would regain possession, more valuable out of possession than the traditional 10 who would create chances and be a vital cog in possession. Players like Isco became rare. But now we've got anpther new wave of players. Athletic runners as the recent pressers were but more aggressive in the traditional way, making runs into the box during attacks instead of sitting outside the box waiting to pounce back on the change of possession. Think Jude at Madrid, McTominay at Napoli. In bw these we also had players like Damsgaard which had the potential to define a generation but didn't. I'm not saying one or the other is now meta, just that we've currently got more molds than before which can be plugged in different playatyles.

Suleiman al-Obeid was killed on Wednesday when Israeli forces attacked civilians waiting for humanitarian aid, the PFA said. ‘‘During his long career, al-Obeid, 41, scored more than 100 goals, making him one of the brightest stars of Palestinian football,” it said. His talent on the pitch earned him the nickname of “the Palestinian Pelé” – a nod to the legendary Brazilian widely hailed as one of the greatest players of all time. Born in Gaza on 24 March 1984, Obeid began his footballing career with Khadamat al-Shati, later playing for Markaz Shabab al-Am’ari in the occupied West Bank, and Gaza Sport. A fixture in the Palestinian national side after his debut in 2007, Obeid gained 24 caps and scored twice, the PFA said, most memorably with a scissor-kick against Yemen during the 2010 West Asian Football Federation championship.

Let me preface this with the confession that I was the one person who supported the Super League. But hot take and this in not a likely prediction or anything, but very much a hot take. If a major change in the football landscape is incoming it's the fifa club world cup gaining relevance. I say this bc if Saudi Arabia can have 6 teams stacked with top players and a decent league around that you have another massive league, meanwhile Qatar and the MLS are attracting top players too. If there can be 5 Non European leagues which have 2 teams that are UCL level an expansion would make sense. But if that happens, quality players will be spread across even more leagues and the bottom half teams across the European clubs will get worse and worse, clubs like Werder Bremen, Rayo Vallecano, Empoli cannot compete at a decent level in such a world. Best case scenario, the domestic season becomes an 18 game season with 10 teams in the top division with the fifa club world cup in whatever way its formatted being the primary revenue generator for top clubs. This could make the UCL either another competition or it could make it the lower tier competition. Perhaps smth like the Euros even.

50 matches today. Times in UTC ### Brazil - Serie B Ponte Preta vs Ituano FC - 24.10.2023 01:00 ### China - Super League Chengdu Rongcheng FC vs Shenzhen FC - 23.10.2023 13:35 ### Denmark - Superligaen Odense vs Midtjylland - 23.10.2023 19:00 ### England - Isthmian Premier Division Carshalton Athletic vs Lewes - 23.10.2023 20:45 Hashtag United vs Chatham Town - 23.10.2023 20:45 ### England - National League South Chelmsford vs Dover Athletic - 23.10.2023 20:45 ### England - Northern Premier Division Bradford PA vs Whitby - 23.10.2023 20:45 ### England - Premier League Tottenham vs Fulham - 23.10.2023 21:00 ### England - Southern Premier Division Central St. Ives Town FC vs Royston Town - 23.10.2023 20:45 ### France - Ligue 2 Laval vs Saint-Etienne - 23.10.2023 20:45 ### France - National Rouen vs Avranches - 23.10.2023 18:30 Red Star vs Cholet - 23.10.2023 19:30 ### India - Indian Super League Hyderabad FC vs Chennaiyin FC - 23.10.2023 16:30 ### Ireland - Premier Division St. Patrick's Athletic vs Sligo Rovers - 23.10.2023 20:30 ### Israel - Leumit League Hapoel Ironi Akko vs Hapoel Rishon LeZion - 23.10.2023 18:00 Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona vs Hapoel Kfar Saba - 23.10.2023 18:00 Sektzia Nes Tziona vs Hapoel Afula - 23.10.2023 18:00 ### Israel - Ligat HaAl Beitar Jerusalem vs Hapoel Jerusalem FC - 23.10.2023 19:00 ### Italy - Serie A Udinese vs Lecce - 23.10.2023 18:30 Fiorentina vs Empoli - 23.10.2023 20:45 ### Italy - Serie B Palermo vs Spezia - 23.10.2023 20:30 ### Italy - Serie C Grp. B Sestri Levante vs Carrarese - 23.10.2023 20:30 Arezzo vs SPAL - 23.10.2023 20:45 ### Netherlands - Eerste Divisie FC Groningen vs FC Emmen - 23.10.2023 20:00 Helmond Sport vs FC Dordrecht - 23.10.2023 20:00 Jong Ajax vs ADO Den Haag - 23.10.2023 20:00 Jong AZ Alkmaar vs De Graafschap - 23.10.2023 20:00 Jong PSV vs FC Eindhoven - 23.10.2023 20:00 TOP Oss vs Jong FC Utrecht - 23.10.2023 20:00 ### Norway - 2. Divisjon Avd. 1 Aalesund 2 vs Ørn Horten - 23.10.2023 16:00 Vålerenga 2 vs Kjelsås - 23.10.2023 19:00 ### Norway - 2. Divisjon Avd. 2 Strømsgodset 2 vs Kvik Halden - 23.10.2023 19:00 ### Poland - Ekstraklasa Stal Mielec vs Warta Poznan - 23.10.2023 19:00 ### Poland - I Liga Arka Gdynia vs Znicz Pruszkow - 23.10.2023 18:00 ### Romania - Liga II Concordia Chiajna vs FC Gloria Buzau - 23.10.2023 15:00 ### Romania - Superliga Sepsi OSK vs Botosani - 23.10.2023 17:00 CFR Cluj vs Otelul Galati - 23.10.2023 20:00 ### Russia - First League Akron Togliatti vs Shinnik Yaroslavl - 23.10.2023 15:30 Rodina vs Dynamo Makhachkala - 23.10.2023 18:30 ### Russia - Second League Division B Group 3 FC Ryazan vs FC Sakhalinets - 23.10.2023 17:30 Saturn Ramenskoye vs Spartak Tambov - 23.10.2023 18:00 ### Russia - Second League Division B Group 4 Ural II vs Akron Togliatti 2 - 23.10.2023 10:00 ### Serbia - Super Liga Zeleznicar Pancevo vs FK IMT Beograd - 23.10.2023 18:00 ### Spain - LaLiga Valencia vs Cadiz - 23.10.2023 21:00 ### Spain - LaLiga2 Alcorcon vs Cartagena - 23.10.2023 21:00 ### Sweden - Allsvenskan IFK Värnamo vs IFK Göteborg - 23.10.2023 19:00 Elfsborg vs AIK - 23.10.2023 19:10 ### Sweden - Superettan Jönköping S. vs Skövde AIK - 23.10.2023 19:00 ### Turkiye - Super Lig Karagümrük vs Demirspor - 23.10.2023 19:00 Trabzonspor vs Alanyaspor - 23.10.2023 19:00 Data from fotmob.com

Welcome to the community folks Will try to post news at first and then maybe look at match threads starting next season

Whatever happened to the NASL lawsuit? When I search online I find a bunch of things about their injunctions being denied, but nothing actually on a final decision regarding whether or not USSF is a monopoly (which seems pretty clear to me that it is).

72 matches today. Times in UTC ### Argentina - Federal A Zona C Sportivo Belgrano vs Douglas Haig - 03.10.2023 01:30 ### Argentina - Primera B Metropolitana Clausura Ituzaingo vs Dock Sud - 02.10.2023 20:00 Comunicaciones vs CD UAI Urquiza - 02.10.2023 20:30 ### Argentina - Primera Nacional Zona A Deportivo Moron vs San Martin de Tucuman - 03.10.2023 02:10 ### Argentina - Primera Nacional Zona B Brown de Adrogue vs Chacarita Juniors - 02.10.2023 20:00 Deportivo Riestra vs Aldosivi - 02.10.2023 20:30 Villa Dalmine vs Deportivo Maipu - 02.10.2023 20:30 ### Brazil - Serie A Botafogo vs Goias - 03.10.2023 01:00 ### Bulgaria - First Professional League Hebar vs Krumovgrad - 02.10.2023 14:00 Pirin Blagoevgrad vs Slavia Sofia - 02.10.2023 16:30 Lokomotiv Plovdiv vs PFC CSKA-Sofia - 02.10.2023 19:00 ### Chile - Primera Division Universidad de Chile vs Audax Italiano - 03.10.2023 00:00 ### Croatia - HNL NK Istra 1961 vs NK Lokomotiva - 02.10.2023 18:00 ### Denmark - Superligaen Odense vs Lyngby - 02.10.2023 19:00 ### England - Premier League Fulham vs Chelsea - 02.10.2023 21:00 ### England - Premier League 2 Tottenham Hotspur Academy vs Chelsea Academy - 02.10.2023 20:00 Wolverhampton Wanderers Academy vs Leeds United Academy - 02.10.2023 20:00 ### Finland - Ykkonen Championship Group HIFK vs MP - 02.10.2023 17:30 TPS vs EIF - 02.10.2023 17:30 ### France - Ligue 2 AC Ajaccio vs SC Bastia - 02.10.2023 20:45 ### France - National Chateauroux vs Red Star - 02.10.2023 18:30 ### Germany - Frauen-Bundesliga Bayern München (W) vs FC Köln (W) - 02.10.2023 19:30 ### Germany - Regionalliga West SC Paderborn 07 II vs Schalke 04 II - 02.10.2023 14:00 ### Greece - Super League Atromitos vs Asteras Tripolis - 02.10.2023 17:00 OFI Crete vs AEK Athens - 02.10.2023 19:00 ### Iceland - Besta deildin Championship Group Stjarnan vs Vikingur Reykjavik - 02.10.2023 21:15 ### India - Indian Super League FC Goa vs Punjab FC - 02.10.2023 16:30 ### Iran - Azadegan League Mes Kerman vs Fajr Sepasi - 02.10.2023 16:30 Naft MS vs Khalij Fars Mahshahr - 02.10.2023 17:00 Pars Jonoubi vs Mes Shahr Babak - 02.10.2023 17:00 ### Israel - Leumit League Hapoel Afula vs Ironi Tiberias - 02.10.2023 18:00 Hapoel Ramat Gan vs Hapoel Ironi Akko - 02.10.2023 18:00 Maccabi Kabilio Jaffa vs SC Kfar Kasem - 02.10.2023 18:00 ### Israel - Ligat HaAl Beitar Jerusalem vs Hapoel Tel Aviv - 02.10.2023 19:30 ### Italy - Serie A Sassuolo vs Monza - 02.10.2023 18:30 Torino vs Hellas Verona - 02.10.2023 18:30 Fiorentina vs Cagliari - 02.10.2023 20:45 ### Italy - Serie C Grp. B Pescara vs Gubbio - 02.10.2023 20:30 Vis Pesaro vs Fermana - 02.10.2023 20:45 ### Italy - Serie C Grp. C Taranto vs Audace Cerignola - 02.10.2023 15:00 ### Netherlands - Eerste Divisie Jong FC Utrecht vs NAC Breda - 02.10.2023 20:00 MVV Maastricht vs FC Eindhoven - 02.10.2023 20:00 ### Norway - 2. Divisjon Avd. 1 Fram Larvik vs Vålerenga 2 - 02.10.2023 16:00 ### Norway - 2. Divisjon Avd. 2 Strømsgodset 2 vs Levanger - 02.10.2023 15:15 Brann 2 vs Sotra SK - 02.10.2023 18:30 ### Poland - Ekstraklasa Gornik Zabrze vs Zaglebie Lubin - 02.10.2023 19:00 ### Poland - I Liga Gornik Leczna vs Zaglebie Sosnowiec - 02.10.2023 18:00 ### Portugal - Liga Portugal Gil Vicente vs Casa Pia AC - 02.10.2023 21:15 ### Portugal - Liga Portugal 2 Penafiel vs Nacional - 02.10.2023 19:00 Torreense vs CF Os Belenenses - 02.10.2023 21:15 ### Romania - Liga II Corvinul Hunedoara vs CS Mioveni - 02.10.2023 15:00 ### Romania - Superliga CSM Politehnica Iasi vs Petrolul Ploiesti - 02.10.2023 17:00 FC FCSB vs Universitatea Cluj - 02.10.2023 20:00 ### Russia - First League Rodina vs KamAZ - 02.10.2023 15:00 Akron Togliatti vs Khimki - 02.10.2023 15:30 Sokol Saratov vs FC Alania Vladikavkaz - 02.10.2023 18:00 ### Russia - Second League Division B Group 1 Subgroup 2 Legion Makhachkala vs Dynamo Makhachkala 2 - 02.10.2023 14:00 ### Russia - Second League Division B Group 2 Velikiy Novgorod vs Znamya - 02.10.2023 12:00 ### Russia - Second League Division B Group 3 FC Ryazan vs Kvant Obninsk - 02.10.2023 12:00 ### Serbia - Super Liga Vozdovac vs Novi Pazar - 02.10.2023 19:00 ### Spain - LaLiga Las Palmas vs Celta Vigo - 02.10.2023 21:00 ### Spain - LaLiga2 Espanyol vs Racing de Ferrol - 02.10.2023 21:00 ### Sweden - Allsvenskan Elfsborg vs Varbergs BoIS FC - 02.10.2023 19:00 Malmö FF vs Brommapojkarna - 02.10.2023 19:10 ### Sweden - Damallsvenskan IFK Norrköping (W) vs BK Häcken (W) - 02.10.2023 19:00 Växjö DFF (W) vs FC Rosengård (W) - 02.10.2023 19:00 ### Sweden - Superettan IK Brage vs Skövde AIK - 02.10.2023 19:00 Jönköping S. vs Östersunds FK - 02.10.2023 19:00 Utsiktens BK vs AFC Eskilstuna - 02.10.2023 19:00 ### Turkiye - Super Lig Kayserispor vs Başakşehir - 02.10.2023 19:00 ### Ukraine - Premier League SC Dnipro-1 vs Metalist 1925 - 02.10.2023 16:00 ### United States - NWSL Angel City FC (W) vs Orlando Pride (W) - 03.10.2023 04:00 Data from fotmob.com

cross-posted from: https://lazysoci.al/post/14340013 > Summary: > > This video talks about Manchester City taking legal action against the Premier League over financial rules. Manchester City argues that some of the Premier League's Financial rules, specifically the associated party transaction rules, are unlawful and incompatible with UK competition law. These rules require that any commercial deals a club signs with a company linked to its owners must be fair value. Manchester City believes that these rules are unlawful and could have serious ramifications for the future competitive balance of the Premier League. > > > > The hearing on these charges is set for November. However, Manchester City is arguing that if they win the case that starts next week, it would blow a hole in the Premier League's case at the hearing in November. This is because Manchester City would have successfully argued that the rules are unlawful. > > > > The video also talks about the bigger picture, which is an argument about ownership of Premier League clubs. There are two sides to this argument. One side argues that owners should be allowed to put in as much money as they want into their clubs. The other side argues that financial rules are necessary to maintain competitive balance. The video says that it will be interesting to see how this plays out, as some Premier League clubs are siding with the Premier League and others may want to get rid of the associated party transaction rules. > > > Original article: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/sport/football/article/man-city-legal-action-premier-league-hearing-7k6r5glhq > > Full Article: > > Man City launch unprecedented legal action against Premier League > Matt Lawton > 15 - 18 minutes > > > > Manchester City have launched an unprecedented legal action against the Premier League in a move that has sparked civil war in English football’s top flight. > > > > The dispute, which has become a battle between the most powerful clubs in the country, will be settled after a two-week private arbitration hearing starting on Monday. > > > > The outcome could dramatically alter the landscape of the professional game and have a significant impact on a separate hearing set for November into City’s 115 alleged breaches of the Premier League’s regulations and financial rules. That hearing, expected to last six weeks, could lead to huge fines for the club owners and possibly even relegation for Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering side. > > > > At next week’s hearing, which has provoked bitter divisions between clubs, City will attempt to end the league’s Associated Party Transaction (APT) rules, which they claim are unlawful, and seek damages from the Premier League. > > > > Introduced in December 2021 in the wake of the Saudi-led takeover of Newcastle United, the rules are designed to maintain the competitiveness of the Premier League by preventing clubs from inflating commercial deals with companies linked to their owners. The rules dictate that such transactions have to be independently assessed to be of “fair market value” (FMV). > > > > But within a 165-page legal document City argue that they are the victims of “discrimination”, describing rules they say have been approved by their rivals to stifle their success on the pitch as a “tyranny of the majority”. > > > > If City are successful in their claim — and some rival clubs fear they will be — it could enable the richest clubs to value their sponsorship deals without independent assessment, vastly boosting the amount of money they can raise and therefore giving them far greater sums to spend on players. > > > > City have been dominant on the field during the past decade and have recently won their fourth Premier League title in a row > > > > City have been dominant on the field during the past decade and have recently won their fourth Premier League title in a row > > > > BRADLEY COLLYER/PA WIRE > > > > The league’s other 19 clubs have been invited to participate in the legal action and The Times understands between 10 and 12 have stepped forward, providing either witness statements or a letter detailing evidence in support of the Premier League’s defence against the claim. Those who have provided witness statements may be called by the tribunal to give evidence at the hearing. > > > > As well as the impact it could have on the Premier League as a competition, clubs fear City’s claim could also be key to the outcome of the hearing into their 115 alleged breaches between 2009 and 2023, with sponsorship deals funded by companies linked to Abu Dhabi central to the accusations against them. > > > > It has been alleged that City concealed payments made by their owner, Sheikh Mansour, through third parties and disguised them as sponsorship revenue. Even before the more recent moves by the Premier League to tighten regulation around APTs, there was a requirement under the league’s rules that related party transactions must be of fair market value. If such rules are now deemed unlawful, it could significantly strengthen City’s defence at the hearing later this year. City have denied any wrongdoing relating to the 115 charges. > > > > The Times can confirm that City carried out that threat, filing their claim on February 16, with the Premier League informing its member clubs in March that a date of June 10 had been set for the hearing. > > > > Erling Haaland is one of a series of high-profile moves made under City’s present ownership > > > > Erling Haaland is one of a series of high-profile moves made under City’s present ownership > > > > LUKE TAYLOR/SPLASH > > > > City are suing the Premier League for damages, while arguing that the league’s democratic system of requiring at least 14 clubs, or two thirds of those who vote, to implement rule changes gives the majority unacceptable levels of control. They accuse rival clubs of “discrimination against Gulf ownership”, citing the comments of one particular senior club executive. > > > > City argue that sponsors linked to club owners — City’s are in Abu Dhabi — should be allowed to determine how much they want to pay, regardless of independent valuation. Four of City’s top ten sponsors have ties to the United Arab Emirates, including their stadium and shirt sponsor, Etihad Airways. > > > > Newcastle, who are majority-owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, have a shirt sponsorship deal with Sela, a Saudi sports rights company. Chelsea have a shirt deal with Infinite Athlete, a leisure company which counts the joint-Chelsea owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali among its investors. > > > > While The Times knows of at least one club who have submitted a witness statement in support of City for next week’s arbitration hearing, sources believe more than half have sided with the Premier League. The Premier League invited clubs to submit their statements in a letter from their general counsel, Kevin Plumb, on March 1. > > > > Despite having just won a record fourth successive Premier League title, City claim rules introduced 2½ years ago are restrictive and anti-competitive. > > > > City are accusing rival clubs of “discrimination against Gulf ownership” > > > > City are accusing rival clubs of “discrimination against Gulf ownership” > > > > VICTORIA HAYDN/MANCHESTER CITY FC VIA GETTY IMAGES > > > > Their rivals believe that what City are doing will actually destroy the competitiveness of the world’s most popular league, allowing clubs with super-rich owners to spend unlimited amounts of money on their playing squads and infrastructure and nullify Financial Fair Play rules. > > > > Millions are being spent on legal fees to fight this case. One senior club source says the Premier League’s legal bill has more than quadrupled in the past year, from about £5million to more than £20million. They also point to the fact that since February the Premier League’s own legal department has been forced to shift its focus to this claim when it is also trying to prepare for the hearing into City’s 115 charges. “This is clearly a tactic,” the source said. > > > > City have certainly spared no expense in their potentially groundbreaking legal fight. They have appointed three KCs, with Lord Pannick supported by Paul Harris and Rob Williams. A fourth senior barrister who specialises in competition and regulatory law, David Gregory, is also on City’s team. > > > > In their claim, City are seeking “damages for the losses which it has incurred as a result of the unlawfulness of the FMV [fair market value] rules”, in particular for costs resulting from delays, sums they claim were not paid under agreed deals and additional costs, including the club’s inability to generate revenue from delayed or cancelled projects. This, clubs believe, could potentially amount to tens of millions. > > > > Newcastle are majority-owned by Saudi Arabia’s PIF and have a front-of-shirt sponsor with Sela, a Saudi sports rights company > > > > Newcastle are majority-owned by Saudi Arabia’s PIF and have a front-of-shirt sponsor with Sela, a Saudi sports rights company > > > > ANDREW KEARNS – CAMERASPORT VIA GETTY IMAGES > > > > Indeed, City’s claim says the club are seeking a split trial, with the first part focused on the APT rules followed by a second to then determine damages. > > > > In his letter to clubs on March 1, Plumb detailed the nature of City’s legal challenge under Section X of the Premier League rules. > > > > Plumb explained how the Premier League had to secure an order that enabled it to disclose the details of the arbitration to its member clubs and confirm that it was indeed City who had filed a claim. “The purpose of this letter is to provide those further details, within the bounds of the confidentiality of the proceedings, and to confirm the process by which any club may participate in the arbitration,” Plumb states. > > > > He explained to clubs the detail of City’s claim that the rules are contrary to the Competition Act 1998. > > > > Plumb then said the Premier League’s independent legal counsel believes the rules are compatible with English law and that they will fight the legal action. > > > > On February 26 a directions hearing in the arbitration took place, with the tribunal appointed to hear the case giving the Premier League permission to provide a redacted copy of City’s statement of claim to other clubs, because they may be affected by the outcome of the challenge. > > > > The tribunal set a date for the final hearing to take place from June 10 to June 21, with all witness statements due to be submitted by March 28 in line with the deadline for the Premier League’s statement of defence. > > > > Clubs were given the option of either intervening formally in the proceedings, upon receiving permission from the tribunal, or submitting factual evidence on relevant matters. > > > > Lord Pannick is representing the club in the case > > > > Lord Pannick is representing the club in the case > > > > AARON CHOWN/PA WIRE > > > > Within the City claim is a challenge to the voting system upon which the Premier League’s decision-making process has long been built, which requires two thirds of clubs to support a rule change. They say this allows a majority of clubs to exert a “tyranny” that damages the minority. > > > > City also claim the FMV rules are intended to be discriminatory towards clubs with ties to the Gulf region. > > > > The claim says the rules were imposed at the instigation of certain rival clubs reacting to the Saudi takeover of Newcastle, with the aim to “safeguard their own commercial advantages”. They say rivals were seeking to limit deals from companies in the Gulf region, citing a quote from a senior executive from another club. > > > > They claim the rules were “deliberately intended to stifle commercial freedoms of particular clubs in particular circumstances, and thus to restrict economic competition”. > > > > City also complain that, when it comes to negotiating any form of sponsorship agreement, clubs in the north are at a disadvantage to those in London, who, they say, can charge higher ticket prices. However, rival clubs estimate that, based on median ticket prices at the Etihad Stadium and the seven Premier League clubs in London, City are ranked third. > > > > City blame the Premier League for not regulating spending when clubs such as Manchester United were more dominant, arguing they have been prevented from monetising their brand in the way United did. City also say the rules penalise clubs who have “lower-profile sporting histories”. > > > > In their claim, City also dismiss concerns that an inflated sponsorship deal with a company linked to the club’s ownership could be vulnerable to a change of ownership. > > > > “There is no rational or logical connection between a club’s financial non-sustainability and its receipt of revenues from entities linked to ownerships,” City’s claim states. They say companies would honour sponsorships even if the club were sold to new owners. > > > > As one Premier League club source observed, this overlooks the fact it is common for sponsorship contracts to have clauses that mean the terms change under new ownership. > > > > City argue that the Premier League has failed to provide evidence that sponsorship deals with related parties give clubs an unfair advantage or distort the league’s competitive balance. > > > > They also say that the Premier League, as an organisation, is a direct competitor for sponsorship and therefore claim it has a conflict of interest. > > > > Further to that, City question the independence of Nielsen Sports, the data analytics company used to determine the fair market value of sponsorship deals, because it has been retained by the Premier League for more than two years. > > > > City complain that FMV rules discriminate against clubs who form part of a multiclub ownership group, and only apply to commercial deals and not shareholder loans. > > > > Ultimately, City stand accused of breaking financial rules to spend close to £2billion building a team who now dominate the Premier League and in the 2022-23 season won a European and domestic treble. > > > > In their claim, City argue that the present rules will limit their ability to buy the best players and force them to charge fans more for tickets. They say they may also have to cut spending on youth development, women’s football, and community programmes. > > > > Premier League clubs have a scheduled meeting in Harrogate on Thursday. > > > > Manchester City did not respond when contacted for comment. The Premier League has declined to comment. > Why are Manchester City taking action against the Premier League? > > > > They want Premier League rules for Associated Party Transactions (APT) scrapped, claiming they are unlawful. APT rules, which were introduced in December 2021 and tightened this year, cover sponsorship and commercial deals with companies connected to the clubs, as well as any player transfers between clubs in the same ownership group, to ensure they are of “fair market value”. If City succeed, any constraints over inflated sponsorship deals would be removed. Victory for City could also have a significant impact on their case concerning 115 Premier League charges for alleged breaches of Profit and Sustainability Rules. > What is an APT and why are they important? > > > > In England there are a number of examples of APTs. Newcastle have secured a £25million-a-year front-of-shirt deal with Saudi events company Sela since their Saudi-led takeover, while Chelsea have a shirt deal with Infinite Athlete, a leisure company that counts joint-Chelsea owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali among its investors. Four of City’s ten main sponsors have links to Abu Dhabi, including the shirt and stadium deals with Etihad Airways. > > > > Until December 2021, the Premier League only viewed commercial deals as “related party transactions” if they were described as such in clubs’ accounts — Manchester City did not declare sponsorship deals such as Etihad’s as related party transactions. The 2021 rules stated that if the Premier League’s board has reasonable grounds to suspect that it is an associated party deal then an independent firm will determine whether it is of fair market value. > > > > From this January, the Premier League made clubs liable to be charged with a breach of the rules if they do not “use all reasonable care” to ensure deals are of fair market value, with the burden of proof on the clubs to show they are. > > > > If constraints over APTs are removed, there are concerns that deals similar to the €200million-a-year deal between the Qatar Tourist Authority and Qatari-owned Paris Saint-Germain announced in 2014 — which Uefa later judged to be not of fair market value — could be replicated in England. > What are the 115 charges? > > > > Fifty-four concern a failure to provide accurate financial information 2009-10 to 2017-18. Fourteen are related to a failure to provide accurate details for player and manager payments from 2009-10 to 2017-18. Five concern a failure to comply with Uefa’s rules, including Financial Fair Play regulations, from 2013-14 to 2017-18. Seven are for breaching the Premier League’s PSR rules 2015-16 to 2017-18. 35 are for a failure to cooperate with Premier League investigations between December 2018 and February 2023. The allegations first surfaced because of leaked correspondence published by the German newspaper, Der Spiegel. City have always argued that the material was obtained illegally. > What does this mean for City’s charges? > > > > Significantly, next week’s private arbitration hearing comes before the independent hearing for City’s charges, which is due to start in November. Rival clubs are concerned that a successful claim against APT rules could strengthen City’s defence later in the year. It has been alleged that City concealed payments made by owner Sheikh Mansour’s Abu Dhabi United Group through third parties and disguised them as sponsorship revenue. If the tribunal concludes that Premier League rules around fair market value are unlawful — and such regulations existed even before more robust rules were introduced in 2021 — it could open the way for City to launch fresh challenges against the legality of the rules concerning the 115 charges.

### Goals **Aston Villa:** **Manchester United:** *** **Competition:** English Premier League **Kickoff:** 13:00+UTC **Venue:** Villa Park - Birmingham England **Head referee:** Robert Jones *** **Aston Villa form [old → recent]:** ✅️✅️✅️➖️✅️ **Manchester United form [old → recent]:** ✅️➖️➖️❌️➖️ **Head to head [recent → old]:** (AVL-MAN): 1-2, 2-3, 0-1, 2-4, 3-1 *** ### Lineups **Aston Villa 4-2-3-1:** `Emiliano Martínez(23)` - `Pau Torres(14)` - ~~``Ezri Konsa(4)``~~ ⇆ `Diego Carlos(3)` - ~~``Lucas Digne(12)``~~ ⇆ `Ian Maatsen(22)` - `Matty Cash(2)` - `Morgan Rogers(27)` - `Youri Tielemans(8)` - `Ross Barkley(6)🟨` - `Ollie Watkins(11)` - `Jaden Philogene(19)` - ~~``Leon Bailey(31)``~~ ⇆ `Jhon Durán(9)` **Bench:** Kosta Nedeljkovic - Sil Swinkels - Joe Gauci - Emiliano Buendía - Lamar Bogarde - Kadan Young - ~~Jhon Durán~~ - ~~Ian Maatsen~~ - ~~Diego Carlos~~ **Manchester United 4-2-3-1:** `André Onana(24)` - `Jonny Evans(35)` - ~~``Harry Maguire(5)🟨``~~ ⇆ `Matthijs de Ligt(4)` - `Diogo Dalot(20)` - ~~``Noussair Mazraoui(3)``~~ ⇆ `Victor Lindelöf(2)🟨` - `Bruno Fernandes(8)` - `Christian Eriksen(14)🟨` - ~~``Kobbie Mainoo(37)🟨``~~ ⇆ `Casemiro (18)` - ~~``Rasmus Højlund(9)``~~ ⇆ `Joshua Zirkzee(11)` - ~~``Marcus Rashford(10)🟨``~~ ⇆ `Antony (21)` - `Alejandro Garnacho(17)` **Bench:** Manuel Ugarte - Altay Bayindir - Amad - Lisandro Martínez - ~~Matthijs de Ligt~~ - ~~Antony ~~ - ~~Casemiro ~~ - ~~Joshua Zirkzee~~ - ~~Victor Lindelöf~~ *** ### Match Stats **Possession:** 54%🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴46% **Shots On Goal:** 1 - 4 **Shots Attempted:** 11 - 10 **Fouls:** 13 - 11 **Yellow Cards:** 1 - 5 **Red Cards:** 0 - 0 **Corners:** 6 - 3 **Saves:** 4 - 1 *** ### Match Events **Lineups are announced and players are warming up.** **First Half begins.** `3'` - Foul by Christian Eriksen (Manchester United). `3'` - Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the attacking half. `3'` - 🟨 Christian Eriksen (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. `5'` - Attempt saved. Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. `8'` - Attempt missed. Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Ollie Watkins. `9'` - Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half. `9'` - Foul by Rasmus Højlund (Manchester United). `10'` - Delay in match because of an injury Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa). `12'` - 🔄 Substitution, Aston Villa. Diego Carlos replaces Ezri Konsa because of an injury. `12'` - Delay over. They are ready to continue. `15'` - Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) wins a free kick on the right wing. `15'` - Foul by Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa). `20'` - Attempt missed. Jaden Philogene (Aston Villa) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Lucas Digne. `22'` - Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) wins a free kick on the left wing. `22'` - Foul by Ross Barkley (Aston Villa). `25'` - Foul by Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa). `25'` - Jonny Evans (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half. `29'` - Foul by Ross Barkley (Aston Villa). `29'` - Jonny Evans (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half. `32'` - Attempt blocked. Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. `32'` - Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Jonny Evans. `33'` - Foul by Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa). `33'` - Rasmus Højlund (Manchester United) wins a free kick on the right wing. `34'` - Offside, Manchester United. Noussair Mazraoui is caught offside. `36'` - Foul by Harry Maguire (Manchester United). `36'` - Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) wins a free kick on the right wing. `36'` - 🟨 Harry Maguire (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. `39'` - Attempt saved. Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Marcus Rashford. `40'` - Attempt blocked. Leon Bailey (Aston Villa) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ross Barkley. `40'` - Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half. `40'` - Foul by Lucas Digne (Aston Villa). `41'` - Foul by Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United). `41'` - Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half. `41'` - 🟨 Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. `43'` - Foul by Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United). `43'` - Jaden Philogene (Aston Villa) wins a free kick on the left wing. `45'` - Fourth official has announced 3 minutes of added time. `45'+2'` - Foul by Jonny Evans (Manchester United). `45'+2'` - Leon Bailey (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the attacking half. `45'+3'` - Foul by Diego Carlos (Aston Villa). `45'+3'` - Noussair Mazraoui (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half. `45'+3'` - Delay in match because of an injury Harry Maguire (Manchester United). `45'+4'` - Delay over. They are ready to continue. `45'+4'` - First Half ends, Aston Villa 0, Manchester United 0. `45'` - Second Half begins Aston Villa 0, Manchester United 0. `45'` - 🔄 Substitution, Manchester United. Matthijs de Ligt replaces Harry Maguire because of an injury. `45'` - 🔄 Substitution, Manchester United. Victor Lindelöf replaces Noussair Mazraoui. `48'` - Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half. `48'` - Foul by Lucas Digne (Aston Villa). `48'` - Attempt blocked. Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Christian Eriksen. `49'` - Attempt saved. Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Kobbie Mainoo. `49'` - Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Emiliano Martínez. `49'` - Attempt missed. Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left following a corner. `50'` - Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Alejandro Garnacho. `51'` - Attempt missed. Matty Cash (Aston Villa) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Youri Tielemans following a corner. `55'` - Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Diogo Dalot. `56'` - Attempt saved. Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Leon Bailey. `56'` - Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by André Onana. `57'` - Attempt missed. Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) right footed shot from the right side of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Morgan Rogers. `59'` - Foul by Marcus Rashford (Manchester United). `59'` - Matty Cash (Aston Villa) wins a free kick on the right wing. `59'` - 🟨 Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. `61'` - Foul by Marcus Rashford (Manchester United). `61'` - Leon Bailey (Aston Villa) wins a free kick on the right wing. `63'` - 🔄 Substitution, Aston Villa. Jhon Durán replaces Leon Bailey. `63'` - Attempt missed. Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) right footed shot from the left side of the box is too high following a set piece situation. `64'` - 🔄 Substitution, Manchester United. Joshua Zirkzee replaces Rasmus Højlund. `64'` - 🔄 Substitution, Manchester United. Antony replaces Marcus Rashford. `64'` - Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half. `64'` - Foul by Matty Cash (Aston Villa). `66'` - Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half. `66'` - Foul by Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa). `67'` - Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half. `67'` - Foul by Matty Cash (Aston Villa). `68'` - Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) hits the bar with a right footed shot from outside the box from a direct free kick. `68'` - Attempt missed. Antony (Manchester United) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right following a set piece situation. `70'` - Foul by Ross Barkley (Aston Villa). `70'` - Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half. `72'` - Delay in match because of an injury Diego Carlos (Aston Villa). `73'` - Delay over. They are ready to continue. `75'` - Foul by Matthijs de Ligt (Manchester United). `75'` - Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the attacking half. `76'` - Attempt missed. Lucas Digne (Aston Villa) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick. `77'` - Attempt saved. Antony (Manchester United) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Diogo Dalot. `78'` - Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Victor Lindelöf. `85'` - 🔄 Substitution, Aston Villa. Ian Maatsen replaces Lucas Digne. `85'` - 🔄 Substitution, Manchester United. Casemiro replaces Kobbie Mainoo. `86'` - Attempt blocked. Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Casemiro. `87'` - Foul by Victor Lindelöf (Manchester United). `87'` - Jhon Durán (Aston Villa) wins a free kick on the left wing. `87'` - Foul by Victor Lindelöf (Manchester United). `87'` - Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa) wins a free kick on the left wing. `87'` - 🟨 Victor Lindelöf (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. `88'` - Delay in match (Aston Villa). `90'` - Fourth official has announced 6 minutes of added time. `90'+2'` - Delay over. They are ready to continue. `90'+3'` - Attempt blocked. Jaden Philogene (Aston Villa) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ian Maatsen. `90'+3'` - Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Diogo Dalot. `90'+4'` - Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Matty Cash. `90'+4'` - 🟨 Ross Barkley (Aston Villa) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. `90'+5'` - Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Jhon Durán. `90'+5'` - Attempt missed. Jonny Evans (Manchester United) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Christian Eriksen with a cross following a corner. `90'+6'` - Casemiro (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half. `90'+6'` - Foul by Jhon Durán (Aston Villa). `90'+8'` - Attempt missed. Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa) right footed shot from the left side of the box. *** Generated by [lemmy-match-thread-bot](https://gitlab.com/UlrikHD/lemmy-match-thread-bot)