Aston Villa have written to the Premier League confirming they will side with Manchester City ahead of a vote regarding Associated Party Transaction regulations (APTs).
The Manchester oufit themselves wrote to the other 19 clubs in the division last week to state their case ahead of a vote on fresh proposals around the rules on Friday. City claim the current rules are "unlawful" as they continue to battle with the Premier League.
ATP rules exist to try and ensure sponsorships with companies linked to clubs' owners represent fair market value and aren't inflated.
Villa co-owner Nassef Sawiris though has nailed his colours to the mast and confirmed that he will be backing the current champions in their process - who have accused the league of "rushing through its consultation process" and urged them to vote against the amendments.
The Midlands club wrote: “It is now abundantly clear that any vote (if passed) will result in immediate further litigation by Manchester City FC and an associated defence by the EPL (English Premier League), incurring material further costs and unnecessary distraction and devotion of time to this issue.
“It is highly likely that the tribunal will conclude within the coming three months, and that an APT rule that takes into consideration the tribunal’s verdict will be supported by all clubs and cannot be contested.
“The imminent establishment of the Government’s new Independent Football Regulator [IFR] and its incorporation necessitates now more than ever that clubs within the PL present their cases to the existing regulator collectively as a united front, rather than each club presenting individually conflicting arguments.
“It is time for all EPL club executives and their owners to remember that whilst the clubs are adversaries on the pitch, we are partners in the EPL with a shared goal of increasing the quality of our product, its value and the EPL’s position in Europe.
“Further acrimonious back-and-forth exchanges that are immediately leaked to the press not only weaken the PL’s leadership and that of its executives, but moreover the PL as an organisation and critically as the custodian of the billions invested in the PL and in English football. This critically weakens the PL as an organisation in front of all its stakeholders, and most importantly the IFR.”
Villa themselves, despite qualifying for the Champions League for the first time in decades, had to sell the likes of Douglas Luiz to remain financially compliant as they looked to bring in reinforcements.
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