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The sports sector has evolved into a thriving multi-billion-dollar industry. Sporting events are increasingly commercialized, professional player departments are often spun off into corporate entities, the phenomenon of multi-club ownership by investors is gaining traction, and new revenue streams – such as in the field of eSports – are continuously being developed.

Manchester City Football Club (City or the Club) and the Premier League are embroiled in a dispute involving 115 alleged breaches of the Premier League Rules (the Rule or Rules). These charges predominantly concern Manchester City’s financial reporting. In this article, we explain the relationship between the Premier League and its member clubs; the progress of the arbitration proceedings and the implications of the tribunal’s impending decision on the parties, other clubs and other stakeholders.