Etihad Airways contradicts Manchester City's appeal strategy with 2015 statement

Manchester City's appeal against charges of breaching over 100 Premier League rules faces scrutiny due to a 2015 statement from their main sponsor, Etihad Airways. The club plans to argue that additional funding for sponsorship deals originated from the Abu Dhabi government rather than the owners, Abu Dhabi United Group. However, Etihad's submission to the US government contradicts this claim, stating that the airline funded its sponsorship from its own resources.

The 2015 statement from Etihad, which responded to allegations of receiving market-distorting subsidies, asserts that the Abu Dhabi government did not pay for the sponsorship of Manchester City. The airline clarified that it has always been transparent about its financing, which relies on equity and commercial loans, rather than state subsidies. This declaration raises questions about the validity of City's defence in their appeal.

An independent disciplinary commission recently determined that Manchester City disguised £830 million of owner funding as sponsorship income over nine seasons. The commission rejected the club's explanation, labelling it as a fabricated attempt to obscure the realities of their financial dealings. This ruling has intensified the scrutiny on City's financial practices and their appeal strategy.

City's lawyers previously presented a similar defence during their Court of Arbitration for Sport hearing related to UEFA's financial fair play rules. Former Etihad chief executive James Horgan testified that sponsorship payments were made from Etihad's own funds. Despite this, City continues to maintain their innocence regarding the financial breaches they have been accused of.

The timeline for City's appeal is set under new Premier League rules, which require the process to conclude within 12 weeks. The appeal can only last five days, and a new panel will have 30 days to deliver a judgement. However, legal experts suggest that City may contest the applicability of these new rules, potentially prolonging the appeal process into next year.

via Sky Sports