Manchester City's main sponsor Etihad is considering legal action against the Premier League

According to the media, the main sponsor of Manchester City is considering legal action against the Premier League in the financial scandal surrounding the top English club, as the broadcaster Sky UK, the British BBC and the British "Guardian" report. According to reports, Etihad Airways feels complicit in the reasoning behind the verdict, although the company says it was not consulted.

Man City were found guilty by an independent commission on all counts of breaching Premier League financial rules between the 2009/10 and 2017/18 seasons.

The airline is defending itself against being brought close to misconduct by the verdict. She categorically rejects the corresponding representation. The airline wants to maintain its long-standing partnership with Manchester City.

Ex-national player: Abu Dhabi era at ManCity at the end

For former England international Jamie Carragher, however, a turnaround is inevitable at the club owned by main shareholder Sheikh Mansour bin Zayid Al Nahyan from the ruling family of Abu Dhabi. "For Manchester City, the Abu Dhabi era is over," wrote the former Liverpool star in an article for the "Daily Telegraph": "The club can only overcome the shame of its guilt and recover from it when those responsible realize that they have not fulfilled their duty and sell the club."

Due to the extent of the institutional fraud and the lack of cooperation in the investigation, all managers at Man City are untenable, said Carragher: "Another fight will only prolong the suffering of the fans who falsely believe in the protestations of innocence."

The commission's findings relate to a period in which Man City became English champions three times. The allegations range from false statements about finances and sponsorship income to incomplete information about coaches and players' salaries.

The club is said to have artificially increased its income using, among other things, fictitious contracts with sponsors and at the same time reduced its costs. This is against English top flight rules. The commission estimated the effect of the model in the affected period at more than 900 million pounds (the equivalent of around 1.05 billion euros). The Premier League also accuses City of a lack of cooperation in the investigation.

Club maintains innocence

The investigation was triggered by the revelations of the SPIEGEL “Football Leaks”. After several years of investigation, the Premier League charged the club in February 2023.

Apart from the already huge damage to their image, the consequences for the 2023 Champions League winner cannot yet be foreseen. The penalties will be decided separately in a further hearing before the independent commission.

Even exclusion from the Premier League would be possible. It is also not ruled out that ManCity will subsequently be stripped of their title. However, it is considered unlikely. The ten-time English champion protests his innocence. The club has until Friday to file an appeal.