Man City Accuse Premier League of Bias in Favour of Arsenal
Man City have reportedly stated that Arsenal and other rival teams are given preference under Premier League rules on shareholder loans.
In order to stop teams like Newcastle United and Manchester City from negotiating exorbitant sponsorship deals in order to avoid a financial infringement, the Premier League recommended regulations on APTs after the Saudi-led takeover of Newcastle United in 2021.
The Cityzens filed a lawsuit when sponsorship agreements with Etihad Airways and First Abu Dhabi Bank were prohibited, after rejecting that their transactions were thought to be inflated.
Fifth-place team City contested the rules in court, claiming they were illegal and unfair.
According to The Times, the Manchester club claim that the Premier League has manipulated the competition to benefit rival teams like Arsenal and others who have received large loans from their owners.
The league’s attempt to amend sponsorship rules declared unlawful and void by an independent tribunal has been subject to an excoriating attack from Man City.
Arsenal, Brighton & Hove Albion, Everton, and Leicester City have all had an unfair advantage, according to the reigning Premier League champions.
According to the report, Man City insist the Premier League “should not alter rules that were previously ruled void, and was too quick and slapdash in its response to the previous verdict.
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In a season already boiling with tension and fierce competition, the rivalry between Manchester City and Arsenal has taken a dramatic turn off the pitch. Reports have emerged that Manchester City have internally raised concerns over what they perceive as Premier League bias in favor of their title rivals, Arsenal. This accusation has sent shockwaves through the English football world, as the champions of England question the integrity of the competition they have dominated for much of the last decade.
A Brewing Rivalry, Now Spilling Over
Manchester City and Arsenal have been locked in an intense title race this season. With both teams trading top spot frequently and only separated by narrow margins, the stakes have never been higher. Arsenal, rejuvenated under Mikel Arteta — Pep Guardiola’s former assistant — are seen as City’s most consistent challengers since Liverpool in 2019-20.
While the rivalry on the pitch has been thrilling, recent developments suggest City are now looking beyond the white lines for explanations. According to sources close to the Etihad, Manchester City officials believe there has been a pattern of officiating decisions, scheduling inconsistencies, and disciplinary rulings that disproportionately favor Arsenal.
Key Points of Contention
The accusations being whispered behind closed doors are not baseless complaints from a struggling team. City, still firmly in the title race, are building a case that revolves around a few critical issues:
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1. Refereeing Decisions
City officials have allegedly compiled footage and statistics showing a clear trend of favorable calls going Arsenal’s way. Key incidents include:
Penalty inconsistencies: City claim they’ve been denied stonewall penalties in matches against top-six rivals, while Arsenal have benefited from soft or marginal calls, particularly in tight fixtures.
VAR decisions: There is mounting frustration within City’s camp over how VAR has been applied in Arsenal’s matches. Guardiola’s staff reportedly question the “selective scrutiny” of handball and offside decisions.
Lack of bookings for Arsenal players: City believe Arsenal players have received leniency from referees when it comes to tactical fouls, dissent, and time-wasting.
The club has allegedly raised some of these concerns formally through internal Premier League review channels.
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2. Fixture Scheduling
Another bone of contention is the timing and spacing of fixtures. Manchester City have had to navigate a dense fixture list involving Champions League ties, FA Cup games, and high-profile league encounters in quick succession.
Meanwhile, Arsenal, not involved in the latter stages of European competition, have enjoyed longer rest periods and more flexible scheduling. City reportedly see this as a strategic advantage granted by the league organizers, even if unintentionally.
Guardiola has alluded to this imbalance in press conferences, often pointing out that City are “playing every three days” while their rivals have “clear weeks” to prepare.
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3. Disciplinary Bias
City also feel the FA’s disciplinary arm has been more severe toward them compared to Arsenal. For instance:
Fines for crowd behavior: City have been fined multiple times this season for incidents involving fan celebrations or pitch invasions. They argue similar scenes at Arsenal have gone without sanction.
Managerial conduct: Guardiola has received touchline warnings and post-match reprimands for emotional outbursts, while Arteta’s animated touchline antics have often been praised as “passionate leadership” rather than penalized.
These perceptions of double standards have added fuel to the fire.
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Public Silence, Private Frustration
While Manchester City have not officially gone public with these accusations, insiders suggest the club is growing increasingly disillusioned with how the league is being managed in this title race. Some at the club believe that the Premier League, under pressure to produce a new champion and avoid accusations of predictability, are subconsciously favoring Arsenal to bring variety to the trophy winners’ list.
Privately, top City officials are said to be compiling a dossier of evidence, potentially to be presented during end-of-season review meetings with Premier League executives. Whether it will result in a formal complaint remains to be seen.
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Arsenal’s Response – Business As Usual
Arsenal, for their part, have stayed silent on these rumors. Mikel Arteta and his players have remained focused on the pitch, avoiding any public comment about the alleged bias claims. Within the Emirates camp, the sentiment is clear: Let City talk, we’ll do our talking on the pitch.
Some sources close to Arsenal view City’s frustrations as mind games, aimed at unsettling their young squad during the run-in. Others believe it’s a sign of pressure getting to Guardiola and his team, who are not used to being this closely pursued at the top.
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Media and Fan Reaction
The reaction from the media and fans has been mixed.
City supporters point to specific examples where they believe their team has been short-changed, particularly in big matches. They argue that Arsenal, still portrayed as underdogs by some outlets, are being protected.
Arsenal fans, in contrast, see City’s comments as a form of elite entitlement — a team used to dominance now crying foul because the tide has shifted.
Neutral pundits have weighed in, with some suggesting that bias is more perception than reality, especially in a season where referees have been under constant scrutiny across the board.
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Guardiola’s Subtle Jabs
Pep Guardiola hasn’t named Arsenal directly in public, but his recent comments have raised eyebrows:
> “Sometimes you get the decisions, sometimes you don’t. But it feels like some teams don’t need to work as hard to get the same results.”
> “We play, we play, we play. Others wait and watch. That’s the difference this season.”
These subtle jabs hint at growing frustration — not just at Arsenal’s rise, but at the system Guardiola feels is enabling it.
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What’s Next?
As the title race nears its final stretch, these accusations — whether grounded in fact or fueled by emotion — add a new layer of drama. If City fail to retain their crown, there’s every chance this narrative of bias will resurface in full force.
Should Arsenal win the title, some may view it as the league’s attempt to restore competitive balance. But if City overcome the odds once again, they’ll point to it as proof that no amount of favoritism could stop their dominance.
The Premier League, for its part, has yet to respond to the whispers from the Etihad. But with the spotlight now firmly on officiating and scheduling, they may soon have no choice.
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Conclusion
Manchester City’s accusations of Premier League bias in favor of Arsenal underscore just how high the stakes are this season. Whether these claims stem from legitimate concern or psychological gamesmanship, they reveal the pressure, paranoia, and passion that define elite football.
As both sides continue their push for the title, what happens on the pitch may decide more than just the trophy — it could reshape trust in the league’s impartiality. Until then, the rivalry burns hotter than ever.
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