lead-art-block.fullscreen-enterExpandManchester City’s main sponsor is Etihad Airways
Manchester City’s main sponsor is Etihad Airways
Manchester City’s defence in their appeal against an independent commission’s guilty verdict over Premier League financial breaches may be undermined by a statement made by main sponsor Etihad Airways to the United States government.
Central to the club’s case will be an insistence government funding, provided via the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Court (CPC), gave financial assistance to sponsors in the emirate to help them to fulfil their liabilities to City, rather than Sheikh Mansour’s Abu Dhabi United Group (ADUG) company, which owns the club.
However, that would appear to contradict evidence from Etihad given to a 2015 Department of Commerce, Transportation and State investigation into state-owned airlines.
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Manchester City have lodged their appeal against the damning judgment that they broke C. An independent commission found City guilty in a report released earlier this week.
Documentation from the hearing records Etihad stating: “The assertion that the Abu Dhabi government paid for Etihad’s sponsorship of English Premier League football club Manchester City is false.
“In 2011, Etihad and Manchester City entered into a 10-year sponsorship agreement, which included naming rights for Manchester City’s stadium. Etihad funded this sponsorship from its own liquidity.
“We are and have always been clear that we do not receive any subsidies from the Abu Dhabi government.”
City announced on Friday they had lodged a “comprehensive” appeal against the independent commission’s verdict.
“The club’s firm position is that, on multiple grounds, the opinion contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact, and is unsafe,” said a statement.
Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour in the stands
Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour in the stands (Martin Rickett/PA)
“The club is innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League and a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists in support of all of its positions relating to this case.
“We will continue to respect due process and are necessarily restricted in what we can say further until all proceedings are complete.”
The commission concluded more than £830million of owner funding was used to inflate revenues and enable the club to comply with Premier League and UEFA financial rules through a series of “sham” arrangements over a nine-year period.
The 40-page core decision published on Tuesday showed the independent commission rejected the CPC explanation as “untrue” in its findings, adding: “We concluded that it was an ‘explanation’ that the club had concocted well after the event in an attempt to obscure and conceal the realities of the disguised funding scheme.”
FA statement on Manchester City:
— The FA (@FA) October 2, 2026
Confirmation of the appeal means the lengthy process still has some way to run, while the Football Association opened the possibility of its own action in a statement on Friday.
“The independent commission’s decision has significant implications for the integrity of the game,” said the statement on thefa.com.
“We are carefully considering the decision and its implications and will take action where appropriate.
“As proceedings between the Premier League and Manchester City Football Club remain ongoing, we do not intend to comment further at this stage. We will, however, continue to monitor developments closely.”
Etihad and Manchester City have been approached for comment.