Etihad Airways, the principal sponsor of Manchester City, is considering legal action against the Premier League following the release of an independent commission’s findings on the club’s financial misconduct. Etihad has strongly denied any involvement in improper commercial agreements.
The independent commission found Manchester City guilty on all charges related to serious breaches of Premier League financial regulations. According to the report, between the 2009/10 and 2017/18 seasons, the club entered into sham contracts with various commercial partners as part of a scheme to conceal funding, artificially inflating revenues by £830 million.
Although Etihad has been City’s sponsor since 2009, the airline was not implicated in the redacted version of the commission’s report. Nevertheless, Etihad expressed concern over the negative impact the public disclosure of the case has had on its reputation, as reported by Sky Sports.
“Etihad categorically rejects any findings, conclusions, or insinuations that the airline has ever been involved in improper commercial agreements,” the company stated.
Etihad also voiced worries about the lack of clarity and transparency in the coverage of the case and announced plans to seek legal advice on possible measures to protect its interests.
Manchester City likewise rejected the commission’s conclusions. The club insists it is innocent and claims to possess evidence supporting its position. City intends to pursue all available appeals procedures, arguing that the ruling contains significant errors in law, principles, and factual matters.
Beyond the concealed funding scheme, the commission found that the club submitted financial reports that misrepresented its true financial status, breached Premier League and UEFA spending limits substantially, and committed over 100 Premier League rule violations.
The commission also reviewed the club’s cooperation with the investigation: three out of four related charges were upheld, while one was not proven. The commission expressed regret over the prolonged duration of the inquiry, with the main hearings held from September to December 2024.
