Manchester City’s strategy in their bid to clear their name after being found guilty of breaking more than 100 of the Premier League's rules has been brought into question by a statement their main sponsor Etihad Airways submitted to the US government in 2015.
*Sky Sports News* understands that City are expected to argue as part of their appeal that the extra funding for their sponsorship deals came from the Abu Dhabi government and not the club's majority owners, Abu Dhabi United Group (ADUG). However, a statement Etihad submitted to the US Departments of Commerce, Transportation and State in May 2015 appears to contradict this explanation.
"The assertion that the Abu Dhabi government paid for Etihad's sponsorship of English Premier League football club Manchester City is equally false," Etihad's submission read. "In 2011, Etihad and Manchester City entered into a 10-year sponsorship agreement... Etihad funded this sponsorship from its own liquidity."
An independent disciplinary commission this week found that City broke financial rules by disguising £830m of owner funding as sponsorship income for nine seasons between 2009 and 2018. City's lawyers are already believed to have put forward the defence at the original 2024 hearing that the extra funding was provided by the Abu Dhabi government and not the owners despite the links between the two. This explanation was rejected by the commission. The club confirmed their appeal on Friday and continue to deny any wrongdoing.
Source: Sky Sports Champions League · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing