Manchester City have lodged an appeal against the Premier League's published verdict, with the club insisting it is innocent and that a "comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence" supports its position. The move escalates a legal battle that has now drawn in key sponsor Etihad Airways, the UK government's Treasury Committee, and even Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
Appeal and Sponsors' Involvement
The appeal, lodged by City, was accompanied by a statement: "The club is innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League and a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists in support of all of its positions, relating to this case." Reports suggest Etihad Airways, City's key sponsor, is appointing a law firm that received a "most feared" industry gong for five consecutive years to state its case.
Pep Guardiola, now global ambassador for the City Football Group, has joined figures such as Liam Gallagher and actor Kevin Kennedy in publicly backing the club on social media, where fans argue points of commercial law while decrying "the Red Cartel."
New Revelations and Political Scrutiny
A revelation has emerged that the money inflating City's sponsorship coffers came not via Sheikh Mansour's investment vehicle but from the Abu Dhabi state government, contrary to the club's previous stance since 2008 that Mansour's ownership was as a private individual. Legal experts suggest this could form part of City's "comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence," though the original published verdict has already rejected that angle as "untrue."
On Thursday, the UK government's Treasury Committee asked tax authorities what action will be taken in response to the verdict's findings. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has had Downing Street issue two clarifications of his initial public comments on the affair, which involved partnerships with the same Abu Dhabi state government. Reports also mention potential political pressure on the UK government from Abu Dhabi, a key trading partner, and calls from the Liberal Democrats for Burnham to publish details of all his meetings with the club's owners.
