Etihad Airways considers legal action against Premier League over City verdict

Etihad Airways, Manchester City's principal sponsor, is contemplating legal action against the Premier League following the club's guilty verdict for serious financial breaches. An independent commission found that City had engaged in 'sham' contracts with commercial partners to inflate revenues by £830 million from 2009/10 to 2017/18. The club continues to deny any wrongdoing, with chief executive Ferran Soriano labelling the process a 'Premier League conspiracy theory'.

In a statement, Etihad Airways categorically rejected any implication of involvement in improper commercial arrangements. The airline expressed concern over the Premier League's lack of engagement during the investigation, stating they were not given the opportunity to provide relevant information. Etihad claims the public communication of the findings has resulted in damaging implications for the airline, despite not being named in the published judgment.

Several other sponsors of Manchester City, including Lucozade, Kellogg's, and Revolut, are standing by the club and have chosen not to comment on the commission's findings while the process is ongoing. The support from these sponsors indicates a united front as City prepares to challenge the commission's conclusions through available legal avenues.

Manchester City has expressed disappointment and surprise at the commission's findings, asserting their innocence and claiming to possess irrefutable evidence to support their position. The club plans to pursue all appropriate regulatory and legal avenues, arguing that the opinion contains material errors and is unsafe. They maintain that they have respected due process throughout the investigation, which has lasted eight years.

The independent commission's verdict stated that City failed to cooperate with the league during the investigation, with three out of four alleged breaches upheld. The commission noted the regrettable length of time taken to reach a decision, which spanned from September to December 2024. City is determined to appeal the findings and continue its fight against the accusations.

via Sky Sports