Etihad Airways Considers Legal Action Against Premier League Over Man City Verdict
Etihad Airways, Manchester City's principal sponsor, is considering legal action against the Premier League after an independent commission found City guilty of serious financial breaches, including 'sham' contracts that inflated revenues by £830m. Etihad says it was never approached during the process and the findings have created damaging implications for the airline.
- Who: Etihad Airways — Manchester City's principal sponsor since 2009 — is considering legal action against the Premier League.
- Why: An independent commission found City arranged 'sham' contracts with commercial partners to artificially inflate revenues by £830m between 2009/10 and 2017/18.
- Key claim: Etihad says the Premier League never contacted or engaged with the airline during the commission's process.
- City response: City deny all breaches and will pursue appeals; CEO Ferran Soriano called the process a 'Premier League conspiracy theory'.
- What's next: Etihad will seek legal counsel on options to protect its interests; City's appeal process is ongoing.
What was said
"Etihad Airways has reviewed the Premier League Commission's published opinion relating to the disciplinary proceedings involving Manchester City FC, 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."
"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."
"Etihad is deeply concerned by the way this matter has been communicated publicly. The lack of clarity and transparency, together with the selective disclosure of information, has created damaging implications for Etihad despite the airline not being named in the published decision. The Premier League must take responsibility for the consequences of the way in which these findings have been presented."
"Etihad is immensely proud of its longstanding relationship with Manchester City. The Etihad name has been proudly carried by the club and its stadium for many years, as part of a partnership that has connected us with millions of supporters around the world. Our commitment to Manchester City, its supporters and our shared partnership remains strong."
"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."
"Manchester City FC is both disappointed and surprised by the opinion of the Premier League commission, that has been published today."
"The club is innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League and a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists in support of all of its positions, relating to this case. The club will therefore be relentless, and where necessary proactive, in any and all appropriate regulatory and legal forums."
"The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements uncompleted. Manchester City FC will now pursue the appeal avenues open to it, on the basis that the opinion contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact, and is unsafe."
"The club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis that the Premier League board and executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence."
"The club is obviously restricted in what it can say further until all future proceedings are complete."
Etihad's intervention shifts the legal battleground beyond City's appeal. The airline, sponsor since 2009, insists it was denied any chance to respond to allegations that its commercial arrangements were part of a disguised funding scheme. City CEO Ferran Soriano has already labelled the process a 'Premier League conspiracy theory' in a video to staff, and Etihad now echoes that defiance by standing with the club. The airline's threat of legal action raises questions about whether the Premier League followed proper procedure when publicly communicating findings that, while redacted, still carried reputational damage.
The numbers
- £830m: amount by which Manchester City artificially inflated revenues, per the independent commission.
- 2009/10 to 2017/18: period during which the 'sham' contracts were arranged.
- Well over 100: Premier League regulations breached by Manchester City.
- 3 out of 4: alleged breaches upheld by the commission, with one charge not proven.
- 2009: year Etihad Airways began sponsoring Manchester City.
- September to December 2024: period when the hearing took place.
Why Etihad's legal threat matters for the Premier League
The independent commission's findings centred on City's commercial partners, yet Etihad was not named in the published, redacted judgment. That omission is precisely what Etihad argues has damaged its reputation: selective leaks and the Premier League's public communication created an impression of impropriety without due process. If Etihad proceeds with legal action, it would be a rare case of a sponsor taking on the league itself, potentially exposing the Premier League to claims it failed to engage relevant third parties before publishing conclusions.
City's own appeal is already framed around material errors of law, principle and fact. Etihad's grievance adds a parallel track: procedural fairness. The airline says it was never given the opportunity to provide information or ensure accuracy. That line of attack could complicate the Premier League's defence, especially since the commission itself noted it was 'regrettable' the decision took so long. The hearing ran from September to December 2024, and the fallout is now spilling into legal counsel for a state-owned airline.
On the pitch, City's squad remains unaffected for now, but the off-field noise is intensifying. Etihad's statement explicitly backs the club as it challenges the conclusions, reinforcing the sense that City's ownership ecosystem is closing ranks. For the Premier League, the risk is twofold: a protracted appeal and a separate legal claim from a major sponsor. That combination could stretch resources and further delay any final resolution, including potential points deductions or expulsion scenarios that rival clubs are demanding be settled before the season ends.
Talking points
- Etihad's threat of legal action is a direct challenge to the Premier League's handling of the case — if the airline was never consulted, can the findings be considered fair to all parties?
- City's denial remains absolute, with Soriano calling it a conspiracy theory. Does that defiance strengthen their appeal or harden the league's position?
- The commission upheld three of four alleged breaches. With one charge not proven, City may argue the process was flawed — but the scale of the £830m inflation is hard to dismiss.
- Rival clubs want the verdict enforced before the season ends. If Etihad's legal action delays proceedings, will the Premier League face pressure to act unilaterally?
What happens next
Manchester City will pursue the appeal avenues open to them, arguing the opinion contains material errors of law, principle and fact. Etihad Airways will seek legal counsel to protect its interests, potentially launching its own action against the Premier League. The Premier League has been contacted for comment and has yet to respond. The commission's decision, published Tuesday, remains under appeal, with significant elements of the process still uncompleted.
Frequently asked questions
Is Etihad Airways taking legal action against the Premier League?
Etihad says it will seek legal counsel on the options and recourse available to protect its interests, after stating the Premier League never engaged with the airline during the commission's process.
What did the independent commission find Manchester City guilty of?
The commission found City arranged 'sham' contracts with commercial partners to artificially inflate revenues by £830m between 2009/10 and 2017/18, and that the club failed to co-operate with the investigation.
Were Etihad Airways named in the published judgment?
No. Etihad were not named in Tuesday's published judgment, but the airline says the findings have created damaging implications for them.
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