Manchester City's principal sponsor, Etihad Airways, has said it is considering taking legal action against the Premier League. City were found guilty of all charges related to serious breaches of Premier League financial rules by an independent commission. The independent commission found that between 2009/10 and 2017/18, City arranged "sham" contracts with a number of its commercial partners as part of a "disguised funding scheme" to artificially inflate the club's revenues by £830m.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player The club continue to deny the breaches, with chief executive Ferran Soriano calling the process a "Premier League conspiracy theory" in a video message to players and staff. And now the Abu Dhabi state airline Etihad Airways, which has sponsored City since 2009, says it "categorically rejects any finding, conclusion or implication that suggests the airline has ever been involved in improper commercial arrangements". In a statement, they say the Premier League did not engage with them and they were not given a chance to provide relevant information.
They are now seeking legal advice to protect their interests. Etihad were not named in Tuesday's published judgment but say it has "created damaging implications" for them. Sky Sports News has contacted the Premier League for comment.
Meanwhile, several Man City sponsors are standing by the club in the wake of the guilty verdict. Lucozade, Kellogg's and Revolut have all told Sky Sports News they are not commenting on the independent commission's findings while the process remains ongoing. A statement said: "Etihad Airways has reviewed the Premier League commission's published opinion relating to the disciplinary proceedings involving Manchester City, together with the Premier League's public communication of its findings.
"Etihad categorically rejects any finding, conclusion or implication that suggests the airline has ever been involved in improper commercial arrangements. "The Premier League's public communication of the commission's findings, following a period of selective leaks and reporting, has further created damaging implications for Etihad despite the airline not being named in the redacted published findings. "At no time did the Premier League reach out to or engage with Etihad in the process associated with the commission's opinion.
Etihad was therefore never given the opportunity by the Premier League to be represented, to provide relevant information, or to ensure the accuracy and fairness of information relied upon in reaching conclusions that may now be interpreted as reflecting adversely on the airline. "Etihad is deeply concerned by the way this matter has been communicated publicly. The lack of clarity and transparency, together with the selective disclosure of information, has created damaging implications for Etihad despite the airline not being named in the published decision.
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