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Manchester City's appeal against the Premier League's financial breach verdict could face a significant hurdle following a 2015 statement by primary shirt sponsor Etihad Airways. According to a report by The Sun, the airline previously told US authorities that it entirely self-funded its sponsorship deal with City, which appears to contradict one of the central defence arguments the club is expected to mount in their appeal.
The Cityzens are disputing findings that approximately £830 million in sponsorship payments between 2009 and 2018 were bankrolled by the club's owners rather than commercial partners. However, in a May 2015 filing submitted to the US Departments of Commerce, Transportation, and State, Etihad firmly denied allegations that the Abu Dhabi government paid for the Manchester City sponsorship, maintaining that the funds came entirely from the airline's own liquidity.
An independent Premier League commission previously ruled that City committed serious financial breaches across nine seasons by using disguised commercial arrangements to artificially inflate revenue. The club vehemently denies the charges and has already lodged a formal appeal, arguing that the decision is riddled with fundamental errors on both legal and factual grounds.
Meanwhile, Etihad has also responded to the commission's ruling, criticising the Premier League for not seeking the airline's position during the proceedings. The sponsor rejected any insinuations of improper commercial dealings and reiterated that it reserves the right to take legal action.
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