'I understand' - Man Utd owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe wades in on Man City legal action vs Premier League

Sir Jim Ratcliffe 'understands' why Manchester City have brought legal action against the Premier League, as the Manchester United minority owner suggested the league have brought the issues upon themselves.

City are the subject of 115 charges from the Premier League for alleged breaches of the Financial Fair Play and Profit and Sustainability Rules. Both Everton and Nottingham Forest were given points deductions for breaching PSR rules last season. Separately, City have brought legal action against the league, challenging Associated Party Transaction regulations which limit sponsorship opportunities related to club owners.

United reportedly voted in favour of strengthening those rules in February but are in support of City when it comes to opposing 'anchoring' proposals which tie the spending powers of clubs to the abilities of the league's lowest earners.

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In a wide-ranging interview Ratcliffe appeared to offer support to City in their legal action, telling the Premier League it risks losing its status as the best division in the world if it continues to inhibit its member clubs.

"I can understand why they are challenging it," Ratcliffe told Bloomberg of City's legal action. "You can understand why they would say that they want an open market, [a] free market."

"If you start interfering too much, bringing too much regulation in, then you finish up with the Manchester City issue, you finish up with the Everton issue, you finish up with the Nottingham Forest issue - on and on and on.

"If you're not careful the Premier League is