Furious APT war could unlock millions for Newcastle United after Noon and Sela deals

Newcastle United could pursue potential damage claims against the Premier League as the fallout of Manchester City’s Associated Party Transaction legal challenge continues.

Chronicle Live understands that the Magpies are assessing their options with the club’s main backers PIF also dialled into the unfolding situation with the Premier League. A tribunal ruled last week that the APT rules are now “void and unenforceable” although Premier League bosses, as things stand, say that it is business as usual.

The conclusion of the tribunal was sparked by Man City after they saw big deals with Etihad Airways, an Abu Dhabi-based airline, and First Abu Dhabi Bank marginalised, with tribunal of the conclusion reading: “In the first partial final award it was declared that the APT rules and amended APT rules were unlawful in three respects.

“There now arises for decision the question whether those three respects can be severed from the remaining APT rules so that those remaining APT rules are valid and enforceable. The three respects in which the APT rules and amended APT rules were unlawful cannot be severed with the result that the APT rules as a whole are void and unenforceable.”

Sponsorship deals struck between associated parties with Newcastle’s PIF ownership group between 2021 and 2024 could now be re-inspected. Newcastle find themselves at the centre of the APT conversation because it was the Saudi-led takeover that jolted rival clubs into action with the Premier League then rewriting part of the rule book as teams feared the Magpies would potentially attempt to buy success.

And even though insiders insisted then that the club’s rebuilding would be a steady and arguably slower process compared to Man City, the rules were hurried through by Prem chief Richard Masters. On paper Newcastle could now claim that they could have gained much more for certain deals in the 2021-2024 time period.