City sponsor Etihad Airways considering legal action against the Premier League

Manchester City’s main sponsor, Etihad Airways, is considering legal action against the Premier League following its publication of the independent commission’s core decision on more than 100 findings of financial rule breaches by the club.

In a statement released on Wednesday evening, Etihad said it “categorically rejects” the guilty verdicts of the independent commission, which it claimed had “damaging implications” for the airline, despite not being named in the published report.

The independent commission found City guilty of artificially inflating their revenues by £900m through “sham” sponsorship contracts that were secretly funded by the owners, the Abu Dhabi United Group.

Related: Building of the Pep supremacy is an era that will be defined by sham-ball

Etihad, the state-owned national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has been City’s principal shirt sponsor since 2009 and was the main source of the initial transformation of their revenues. In 2011 City announced a 10-year naming rights deal worth £400m for the Etihad Stadium, which was subsequently extended on improved terms in 2021.

“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,” the statement said. “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.”

Etihad repeated the phrase used by the City chief executive, Ferran Soriano, in his extraordinary video sent to staff, that the commission’s ruling is an “opinion”, and claimed the Premier League failed to consult the airline throughout their investigation.

“At no time did the Premier League reach out to or engage with Etihad in the process associated with the commission’s opinion,” it 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.

“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.”