The Premier League "abused its position" after it was "improperly influenced" by other clubs in the build-up to blocking a Saudi Arabian-led takeover of Newcastle United, a tribunal has heard.
The claim was made by a barrister representing the club in a Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) that will decide if the league breached anti-competition laws resulting in losses for Newcastle.
The hearing heard claims from Daniel Jowell QC that media organisation BeIn Sports and "a number of major Premier League clubs joined in lobbying against the takeover deal".
That led to an "unfair application of rules" and an "abuse of its position which distorted competition".