Sir Jim Ratcliffe ‘understands’ why Manchester City is suing the Premier League, despite the fact that the Manchester United minority owner said the league caused the problems.
The Premier League has issued 115 charges against City for alleged violations of the Financial Fair Play, Profit, and Sustainability Rules. Last season, Everton and Nottingham Forest both received point reductions for breaking PSR rules. Separately, City has filed legal action against the league, citing Associated Party Transaction restrictions that limit sponsorship opportunities for team owners.
United allegedly voted in favor of increasing such rules in February, although they agree with City on opposing ‘anchoring’ suggestions that limit club spending powers to the skills of the league’s lowest earners.
In a wide-ranging interview, Ratcliffe appeared to encourage City’s legal action, warning the Premier League that if it continues to stifle its member teams, it risks losing its standing as the top division in the world.
“I can understand why they are challenging it,” Ratcliffe said of the City’s legal move. “You can understand why they would say that they want an open market, [a] free market.” “If you start interfering too much and imposing too much regulation, you will end up with the Manchester City issue, the Everton issue, the Nottingham Forest issue, and so on.
“If you aren’t cautious, the Premier League will end up spending more time in court than it does thinking about what is best for the league. We have the best league in the world; don’t spoil it for heaven’s sake.”
On the ‘anchoring’ issue, Ratcliffe added: “It would stifle the elite Premier League clubs. And the last thing you want is for the Premier League’s elite clubs to be unable to compete with Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and PSG; that is crazy. And if that happens, it will no longer be the world’s best league.” Ratcliffe also mentioned UEFA’s constraints on multi-club ownership, using the City Football Group as an example when taking over at Old Trafford. With INEOS-owned Nice competing in Europe alongside United next season, Ratcliffe will need to modify Nice’s ownership structure to allow both clubs to participate in the same competition.
UEFA will also make a decision on CFG ownership of City and sister club Girona, which finished third in La Liga and earned a surprise spot in the Champions League the following season.
