Manchester City’s main sponsor, Etihad Airways, is considering legal action against the Premier League following its publication of the independent commission’s core decision on more than 100 findings of financial rule breaches by the club. In a statement released on Wednesday evening, Etihad said it “categorically rejects” the guilty verdicts of the independent commission, which it claimed had “damaging implications” for the airline, despite not being named in the published report. The independent commission found City guilty of artificially inflating their revenues by £900m through “sham” sponsorship contracts that were secretly funded by the owners, the Abu Dhabi United Group.
Etihad, the state-owned national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has been City’s principal shirt sponsor since 2009 and was the main source of the initial transformation of their revenues. In 2011 City announced a 10-year naming rights deal worth £400m for the Etihad Stadium, which was subsequently extended on improved terms in 2021. 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.
The Premier League must take responsibility for the consequences of the way in which these findings have been presented. The Etihad name has been proudly carried by the club and its stadium for many years, as part of a partnership that has connected us with millions of supporters around the world. Our commitment to Manchester City, its supporters and our shared partnership remains strong.
Etihad will seek the relevant legal counsel on the options and recourse available to protect its interests.”
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