City claim sponsor money came from Abu Dhabi government
Manchester City is preparing an appeal against a Premier League guilty verdict, arguing that sponsorship funding came from the Abu Dhabi government rather than the club's owner. The club aims to refute claims that owner funding was disguised as sponsorship revenue.
Why it matters
This legal battle has major implications for financial fair play regulations and the integrity of revenue reporting in professional football.
Manchester City's lawyers will present evidence that an Abu Dhabi government body – rather than owner Sheikh Mansour – provided funding to sponsors in the dispute which is at the heart of the club’s legal battle with the Premier League.
City are expected to lodge their appeal against the guilty verdict handed down by an independent commission before Friday’s deadline.
The case has dominated sport headlines for almost a week since initial unconfirmed reports emerged last Friday, with former Manchester United defender Gary Neville saying the Premier League had been "dragged through the mud" by the case.
As first reported by the Daily Mail and The Times, it is understood City intend to present evidence to an appeal board which they say refutes the key finding of the original commission that owner funding was being disguised as sponsorship revenue.
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14 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
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