Tottenham and Arsenal are furious at the latest behind-the-scenes drama at Premier League HQ.
The North London rivals don’t agree on much, but their respective boards appear to be a united front when it comes to one issue.
It is a turbulent time for Richard Masters and the rest of the Premier League‘s top brass, who are spinning all sorts of plates at corporate level.
For one, they are in the process of introducing of a new Profit and Sustainability system that will come in on a trial basis from the start of 2024-25.
Secondly – and perhaps even more significantly – they are battling reigning champions Man City in the arbitration courts.
And Spurs and Arsenal‘s stance on the matter reveals a lot about the importance of the issue at the heart of the landmark dispute.
Spur and Arsenal fume at Man City’s attack on Premier League
As per Matt Hughes for iNews, Arsenal and Spurs, alongside Liverpool, are the ‘most exorcised’ clubs when it comes to City’s challenged against the Premier League’s associated party transaction (ATP) rules.
City have taken legal action against the Premier League’s ATP systems, which subjects deals conducted with other entities within a club’s ownership umbrella to a fair market value assessment.
The hearing began on Monday, marking a major intensification of the Premier League’s legal drama, which is believed to have cost the organisation over £50m in the last four years.
Spurs, Arsenal and Liverpool are reportedly furious that City’s Abu Dhabi owners appear to want to give their club limitless spending power.
“Man City are basically saying they should be able to do what they want,” a club source is said to have told iNews.
“They want to invent a new version of football.
“The really galling thing is their actions are so disingenuous, as they’re not challenging the profitability and sustainability rules, which everyone else has to stick to.
“They’re not against the spending rules, they’re just trying to make sure they don’t apply to them.”
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Why are Arsenal and Spurs siding against Man City?
Unlike clubs who are effectively owned by nation states, Spurs and Arsenal’s long-term business plan is to be financially sustainable.
Essentially, that means living within their means. Part of that is generating revenue from commercial partnerships.
They would argue that while they have to go to the market to get the best deal possible, the likes of City, Newcastle United and Chelsea are gaming the system by signing what could be considered inflated deals with associated parties.
It is worth noting, however, that every deal agreed by City and the other two clubs has passed the Premier League’s fair market value assessment
But the trio of clubs who are backing the Premier League in the fight appear to be saying that City agree with the spirit of the financial rules but see themselves as above them.
Significantly, every Premier League club has been invited to give witness evidence at the hearing, so Arsenal and Spurs could yet play a key role in the outcome.