City fightback gathers pace as Etihad weighs legal action

Manchester City’s principal sponsor Etihad Airways is exploring legal options against the Premier League as the club prepares to appeal against financial rules findings, broadening the dispute into a battle over commercial reputation and the treatment of sponsors.The airline has rejected any suggestion of improper arrangements and reaffirmed its commitment to City, while former manager Pep Guardiola has publicly backed the club’s owners, executives, players and supporters.Etihad 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.”The independent commission found that City used sponsorship arrangements to inflate revenue and conceal costs by more than £900m over nine seasons, with the club denying wrongdoing and describing the decision as containing material errors of law, principle and fact.Etihad has been City’s principal shirt sponsor since 2009 and subsequently became the stadium naming rights partner, giving the airline an established commercial interest in how findings concerning sponsorship contracts are understood.The airline’s objection also raises an unanswered question about City’s defence: whether the club sought testimony or documents from Etihad, and what opportunity the airline had to contribute evidence through that route.Etihad’s statement addresses contact from the Premier League, but does not establish that City failed to approach it or explain whether its representatives were offered as witnesses.Etihad continued: “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.”Its intervention also puts the distinction between commercial association and regulatory independence under scrutiny, although defending a longstanding sponsorship does not itself establish that the airline is controlled by City’s ownership.A previous Court of Arbitration for Sport panel did not classify Etihad as a related party to City, finding no identified control or instruction by the club’s ownership or board over the sponsor’s commercial operations.That finding does not erase the organisations’ historical connections, including Mohamed Al Mazrouei’s overlapping roles as Etihad Aviation Group chairman and a City director, which lasted until August 2021.Guardiola has added a public show of solidarity to the sponsor’s response, explicitly supporting the ownership and leadership as City contest the commission’s conclusions.Guardiola declared: “I want every single @ManCity fan to know I am here; more than ever. I am, always have been, always will, be behind my club, my owner, my chairman, Ferran, the players, staff, Enzo and you, our unique supporters.“Let me be clear: we will get through this together. I love you all.”The Premier League declined to comment on Etihad’s statement, while the airline has announced an intention to obtain advice rather than confirming that legal proceedings have been filed.Etihad added: “We stand with the club, its supporters and our wider Etihad community as Manchester City challenges the commission’s conclusions through the processes available to it.“Etihad will seek the relevant legal counsel on the options and recourse available to protect its interests.”