Man City to argue sponsorship deals came from Abu Dhabi government

Manchester City intends to argue that key sponsorship agreements were financed by the Abu Dhabi government rather than its owners, as part of an appeal after being found to have violated financial regulations. On Tuesday, an independent panel concluded that the club was guilty of all charges related to breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules between the 2009‑10 and 2017‑18 seasons. City has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and signalled its intention to lodge an appeal by Friday. The panel found that the club artificially boosted revenue through “sham” sponsorship deals facilitated by its owners. Abu Dhabi United Group (ADUG), a private entity linked to UAE Vice‑President Sheikh Mansour, was said to have increased the value of commercial contracts as part of a “disguised backing scheme” amounting to £830.69 million. This arrangement, it was argued, allowed the club to appear compliant with Premier League and UEFA financial regulations. However, sources cited by the Daily Mail and the Times told BBC Sport that City plans to tell the appeal panel that the funds directed to sponsors originated from the Abu Dhabi government, not from ADUG. The independent panel dismissed that claim as “untrue”, stating: “We concluded that it was an 'explanation' that the nine had concocted good aft the lawsuit successful an effort to obscure and conceal the realities of the disguised backing scheme.” City countered that the panel’s decision contained “clear worldly errors, of law, rule and fact, and is unsafe”. Mansour is a member of Abu Dhabi’s ruling family and a relation of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. ADUG assumed control of City in 2008, and Premier League rules permit state‑owned bodies to sponsor clubs. On Saturday, club president Khaldoon Al Mubarak said he possesses “irrefutable evidence” supporting the club’s innocence. Etihad Airways, City’s primary sponsor, indicated it is considering legal action against the Premier League, claiming the release of the panel’s findings had “damaging implications…despite the hose not being named successful the redacted published findings”. The UAE’s state‑owned broadcaster declared that it “categorically rejects immoderate finding, decision oregon accusation that suggests the hose has ever been progressive improper