Manchester City’s appeal is reported to argue that Abu Dhabi government funding helped sponsors pay the club, rather than the disputed money coming from owner Sheikh Mansour’s private company, Abu Dhabi United Group (ADUG). That is City’s position in an ongoing appeal—not an established finding. The Premier League commission rejected the explanation, and no appeal outcome had been reported as of October 3, 2026.
What is Manchester City arguing in its appeal?
City has appealed an independent Premier League commission’s decision on serious financial-rule breaches. The club says the decision contains material errors and has evidence supporting its position. In the sponsorship-funding dispute, City’s reported argument is that an Abu Dhabi government body provided funds to sponsors from time to time, rather than ADUG supplying the disputed sums.
Chief executive Ferran Soriano, speaking in an internal staff video quoted by the Associated Press, rejected the allegation that the owner’s personal money was secretly routed into City through Abu Dhabi sponsors. That is the club’s denial, not a neutral account of the commission’s findings. Associated Press reported on the appeal and Soriano’s remarks.
What did the commission find about the sponsorship payments?
According to the commission’s findings as reported by the Associated Press, Abu Dhabi sponsors paid £119.25 million of the £949.94 million recorded in City accounts as sponsorship. The commission attributed the remaining £830.69 million to ADUG. These are the commission’s figures as reported by AP, not figures independently re-audited by AP.
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The commission rejected the government-funding explanation, describing it as “concocted well after the event” to disguise the source of the funding. That is the commission’s characterization; it is not an appeal ruling. AP’s account of the commission’s decision reports the figures and conclusion.
How do the competing accounts differ?
| Account | Funding source and route | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Commission’s finding | It attributed £830.69 million of the sponsorship total to ADUG rather than to direct sponsor payments. | Finding by the independent commission, reported by AP; subject to City’s appeal. |
| City’s reported appeal position | Abu Dhabi government funding helped sponsors pay City from time to time. | City’s contention in an ongoing appeal; not an accepted finding. |
| Etihad’s 2015 statement | Etihad said it paid its own sponsorship costs from its own liquidity, not with Abu Dhabi government money. | A historical statement by the airline about its sponsorship; it does not resolve every payment or agreement at issue. |
The distinction matters: a sponsor’s ownership or government connections do not, by themselves, establish who funded a particular payment. The issue is the source of the money and the route it took before reaching City—not simply whether a sponsor paid an invoice.
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Why is Etihad’s 2015 statement relevant?
In a 2015 submission to US government departments, Etihad said: “The assertion that the Abu Dhabi government paid for Etihad’s sponsorship of English Premier League football club Manchester City is equally false.” The airline also said it paid from its own liquidity. This past company statement appears to conflict with the reported appeal theory, but it is Etihad’s statement about its own funding and does not decide the commission’s full set of findings or City’s appeal. Sky Sports reports on Etihad’s submission and the appeal argument.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Has Manchester City’s appeal been decided?
No appeal outcome was established in reporting available on October 3, 2026. The case dates to 2018; the commission issued its findings in 2026, after which City lodged its appeal. The appeal hearing is to remain private and confidential until publication of an outcome is permitted, according to AP. The panel’s treatment of the government-funding argument and the full appeal grounds remain unresolved in the reporting. AP’s report on the appeal describes the hearing’s confidentiality.
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