The vote over sponsorship rules – at the centre of a furious battle between the Premier League and Manchester City – is believed to be on a knife edge, with 24 hours to go.
On Friday, top-flight sides will gather in London for a crunch summit which is expected to be followed by a ballot.
The competition has been forced to act after an independent panel found sections of the existing rules on associated party transactions (APTs) – deals between clubs and parties linked to their owners – to be unlawful after a legal challenge from City.
However, the champions have called on clubs to vote against the amendments, have accused the Premier League of rushing its consultation and have raised the prospect of further legal action should they be enforced.
To obtain the green light, the changes would need the support of 14 clubs. However, Aston Villa have already come out in support of City. Others, including Saudi-owned Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, Chelsea, Wolves and Everton are thought to be closely considering their positions.
The meeting is of huge significance with many factors at play. Previous votes have seen abstentions and City’s threat of potentially-costly further legal action has not gone unnoticed across the league.
The vote over sponsorship rules – at the centre of a furious battle between the Premier League and Manchester City – is believed to be on a knife edge (pictured – CEO Richard Masters)
It comes after a successful legal challenge by Man City saw the APT rules deemed as ‘unlawful’, with the Premier League attempting to change the rules at a summit on Friday
Aston Villa owner Nassef Sawiris (right) said Aston Villa would support City in the new vote
The league’s legal costs for a variety of cases, including the ongoing hearing with City over the champions’ 115 alleged breaches of financial rules, have raised concerns among a large number of clubs.
A vote that fails would also increase the pressure on Premier League chief executive Richard Masters and has the potential to have huge implications, according to those close to the matter.
On Tuesday it emerged that Aston Villa had written to the rest of the league and urged the competition to call off the vote. And on Wednesday, owner Nassef Sawiris gave a statement in which he explained the reasoning, claiming the ’embattled’ Premier League needs a ‘fresh start’.
Sawiris, Egypt’s richest man, also told the Daily Telegraph of his concerns over ‘astronomical’ fees involved in the legal challenges and the need to present a ‘united front’ to the government ahead of the arrival of an independent regulator.
Sawiris confirmed Villa would be voting against the amendments and called on a further 90 days of reflection that would increase the chances of a subsequently unanimous vote.
While the Premier League declined to comment, they remain determined to press ahead with the vote.
City brought their original challenge after the league rejected a new sponsorship deal with Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways. The tribunal which deemed areas of the existing rules unlawful is expected to return with clarification on the status of the current rules within three months.
