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Manchester City plans to argue that key sponsorship deals were funded by the Abu Dhabi government rather than the club's owners in an appeal against a ruling that found them guilty of financial rule breaches from 2009-10 to 2017-18. The independent commission, which rejected this argument as "untrue," estimated the scale of disguised funding at £830.69 million. City's principal sponsor Etihad Airways also plans to consider legal action against the Premier League over the implications of these findings.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-01,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Manchester City has been found guilty of nearly all 115 charges related to breaching Premier League financial regulations, according to reports by The Athletic. These charges span a period from 2009 to 2018 and include failure to provide accurate financial information, player payment details, and compliance with UEFA's financial fair play rules. Despite the reported decision, City maintains that its case is "ongoing" and has not confirmed any sanctions yet. The club plans to appeal for months if found guilty, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. Potential punishments could include stripping titles from Man City, which would elevate Liverpool's 2013-14 title claim. Jurgen Klopp previously welcomed such an outcome but stressed that no decision on sanctions has been made yet. This saga began in 2018 when emails allegedly uncovered by a hacker suggested the club manipulated financial information to comply with regulations. UEFA and the Premier League subsequently launched investigations, leading to the recent verdict. The full implications of this ruling remain uncertain as the legal process continues.
Written for “Man City Premier League Charges Verdict” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 83 other(s) covering the same event.
- Published
Manchester City will claim that key sponsorship deals were funded by the Abu Dhabi government, rather than the club's owners, as part of an appeal after being found to have breached financial rules.
uncertain
deals → publish → rules
It was confirmed on Tuesday that an independent commission had found City guilty of all charges relating to breaches of the Premier League's financial regulations between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons.
asserted
City → confirm → seasons
City have repeatedly denied guilt, and signalled an intent to lodge an appeal by Friday.
asserted
City → deny → Friday
The club was found to have artificially inflated revenue through "sham" sponsorship agreements with the help of its owners.
asserted
club → find → owners
Abu Dhabi United Group (ADUG) - a private investment company belonging to United Arab Emirates vice-president and deputy prime minister Sheikh Mansour - was said to have topped up the value of commercial deals as part of a "disguised funding scheme" to the scale of £830.69m.
This, it was argued, enabled the club to appear to comply with Premier League and Uefa financial rules.
However, as first reported by the Daily Mail and Times, sources have told BBC Sport that City are expected to tell an appeal board that they have evidence showing the money directed to sponsors came from the Abu Dhabi government, rather than from ADUG.
asserted
money → belong → ADUG
The independent commission rejected this argument as "untrue" in its findings, saying: "We concluded that it was an 'explanation' that the club had concocted well after the event in an attempt to obscure and conceal the realities of the disguised funding scheme."
asserted
club → reject → scheme
City have claimed the commission's decision contained "clear material errors, of law, principle and fact, and is unsafe".
asserted
decision → claim → law
Mansour is a member of the ruling family of Abu Dhabi, and the brother of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
asserted
Mansour → rule → Nahyan
ADUG took over City in 2008.
asserted
ADUG → take → 2008
Premier League rules allow state-owned bodies to sponsor clubs.
asserted
bodies → allow → clubs
On Saturday, City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak referred to "irrefutable evidence" that he claimed supports the club's claims of innocence.
uncertain
he → refer → innocence
City's principal sponsor Etihad Airways has said it is considering legal action against the Premier League, claiming the release of the commission findings had "damaging implications…despite the airline not being named in the redacted published findings".
asserted
airline → say → findings
The UAE's state-owned national airline said "it categorically rejects any finding, conclusion or implication that suggests the airline has ever been involved in improper commercial arrangements".
uncertain
airline → own → arrangements
Etihad is owned by sovereign wealth fund L'Imad which is chaired by the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, the son of the UAE president.
asserted
which → own → president
The Premier League declined to comment when contacted by BBC Sport.
asserted
League → decline → Sport
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