Manchester City’s major sponsor, Etihad Airways, is considering legal action against the Premier League after rejecting the findings of the independent commission that investigated Manchester City’s financial affairs.
The airline, which also has the naming-rights of City’s stadium, said the publication of the commission’s decision had created “damaging implications” for its reputation. Etihad was not named in the published findings, which contain a number of redactions.
“Etihad Airways categorically rejects any finding, conclusion or implication that suggests the airline has ever been involved in improper commercial arrangements,” the company said in a statement on Wednesday.
The independent commission found that City had artificially inflated their revenues by £900m through sponsorship agreements it described as “sham” contracts. The commission concluded that the agreements were secretly funded by the club’s owners through the Abu Dhabi United Group. City continue to deny wrongdoing and are challenging the conclusions.
Etihad said the Premier League had not contacted the airline during its investigation and that it had therefore not been able to provide information or respond to material that could now be interpreted as damaging to the company.
“At no time did the Premier League reach out to or engage with Etihad in the process associated with the Commission’s opinion,” the airline said.
“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.”
The company also criticised the way the findings had been made public, referring to “selective disclosure of information” and a lack of clarity and transparency. It said the Premier League “must take responsibility for the consequences of the way in which these findings have been presented”.
Etihad has been a major commercial partner of City since 2009. In 2011, the airline agreed a 10-year naming-rights deal for the stadium worth £400m, with the agreement later extended on improved terms in 2021. Its sponsorship has also covered the Etihad Campus and other parts of City’s wider football group.
