Man City to argue sponsorship deals came from Abu Dhabi
Manchester City will appeal after being found guilty of 114 financial rule breaches, arguing sponsorship funds came from the Abu Dhabi government.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Manchester City plan to lodge an appeal by Friday after being found guilty of 114 out of 115 charges.
- The club will argue that key sponsorship money came directly from the Abu Dhabi government, not ADUG.
- The charges relate to breaches of Premier League financial regulations between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons.
Manchester City are set to claim that key sponsorship deals were funded directly by the Abu Dhabi government rather than the club's owners, forming a central part of their appeal after being found to have breached financial rules. An independent commission confirmed on Tuesday that City were guilty of all charges regarding financial regulation breaches between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons, prompting the club to signal an appeal by Friday.
The club had previously been found to have artificially inflated commercial revenues through sham sponsorship agreements with the assistance of its owners. Abu Dhabi United Group (ADUG), a private investment company owned by UAE vice-president and deputy prime minister Sheikh Mansour, was accused of topping up commercial values via a disguised funding scheme amounting to 830.69 million pounds.
This scheme was argued to have allowed the club to appear compliant with Premier League and UEFA financial regulations. However, sources have told BBC Sport that City's legal team will tell an appeal board they possess evidence showing the directed funds originated from the Abu Dhabi government rather than ADUG.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Sheikh Mansour is a member of the ruling family of Abu Dhabi and the brother of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, having taken over the club in 2008. Notably, Premier League regulations do permit state-owned entities to sponsor football clubs.
The distinction between funding originating from a private investment company versus a foreign state government is critical under Premier League regulations. While owner-led financial injections are heavily restricted to prevent clubs from circumventing spending caps, state-backed sponsorships operate under a different framework. Proving the ultimate source of funds came directly from the state could alter the legal interpretation of these commercial agreements.
Furthermore, Etihad Airways is owned by the sovereign wealth fund L'Imad, which is chaired by the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and son of the UAE president. The Premier League declined to comment when contacted by BBC Sport regarding the upcoming appeal arguments.
Source: BBC Sport
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