Liverpool owner John Henry questioned Manchester City's sponsorship deal with Etihad Airways 16 years ago, and that agreement is now under scrutiny following the guilty verdict from an independent commission.
Manchester City have been found guilty of 114 of 115 charges brought by the Premier League. The club inflated their revenue, which allowed them to spend heavily on players and wages after their Abu Dhabi owners took over.
Henry's social media posts
One of City's landmark deals was the £400million sponsorship agreement with Etihad, announced in July 2011. FSG purchased Liverpool in October 2010, and within a year saw City's financial power.
After the Etihad deal was confirmed, Henry posted on X, then Twitter: "How much was the losing bid?"
Days later, Henry referenced comments made by then Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, who suggested City were trying to find ways around Financial Fair Play rules. Henry wrote: "A club's best player has to be worth at least 10% of your naming rights. Mr. Wenger says boldly what everyone thinks."
Rivalry and legal response
City's rule-breaking covers the period from 2009/10 to 2017/18. During that time, Liverpool finished second to City in 2013/14 and lost to them in the Carabao Cup final in 2016. Liverpool then finished second to City in the title races of 2018/19 and 2021/22 under Jurgen Klopp.
Etihad has said it could take legal action against the Premier League after the verdict. The airline released a statement criticising the Premier League for how its findings were presented.
Etihad rejected "any implication that suggests the airline has ever been involved in improper commercial arrangements" and maintained that they "stand with the club". Etihad said it would "seek the relevant legal counsel on the options and recourse available to protect its interests".
