Premier League clubs are seeking legal advice on compensation from Manchester City over the case. One source, who held a senior executive role at two Premier League teams, said they expected the clubs to file individual compensation claims against Manchester City. Another top lawyer told the BBC that the process could even be centralized by the league. Premier League rules allow clubs to seek legal action against each other for compensation. chances of remaining in the Premier League and asked for compensation for losses associated with relegation. Everton are appealing, and sources previously said they would challenge the ruling “strongly and thoroughly”, but it provides an interesting backdrop to Manchester City’s case. There is uncertainty about a statute of limitations, which would set a limit for claims. Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur reportedly retained their rights to claim compensation two years ago. It’s not just Manchester United (twice) and Liverpool, who finished runners-up to City in their title-winning seasons. These are those clubs that were left out of the Champions League, or that failed to reach Europe, or even those that were relegated. And it could even lead to claims over the prize money for each Premier League place, or potential commercial gains lost by rival clubs. Kieran Maguire, professor of football finance at the University of Liverpool, told BBC Sport that whistleblowers would consider it a “denial of an opportunity”. Maguire explained that “the statute of limitations is not mentioned” in the traditional Premier League manual, although that could be subject to a legal challenge by City. But what about compensation? Just looking at Champions League qualification could raise huge financial claims. “The Champions League in those days was worth a minimum of £30m,” Maguire said. “I think by the time we got to 2018 it was probably worth £60 or £70 million, and that’s in prize money. “On top of that, you could claim for loss of gate receipts and loss of sponsor bonuses. This is highly unlikely, but it is certainly being discussed. “Players receive bonuses for qualifying for the Champions League. Those bonuses, if you talk to people connected with the elite clubs, are usually around 25%.” An average salary in those days would probably, if we go back to 2012, be in the region of £80,000 or £90,000 a week. Twenty-five per cent of that is four or five million pounds a year. This is how the problems accumulate. “Point deductions, fines and compensation claims. This is an extremely complicated situation for the Premier League and it does not look like it will be resolved anytime soon.
