According to Manchester Evening News, an Etihad Airways statement from 2015 could undermine Manchester City's appeal against the Premier League's Financial Fair Play verdict. Rui Pinto, who leaked Manchester City documents, claims he has received death threats and fears for his safety.

Manchester City has appealed against an independent commission's ruling that found the club guilty of all alleged breaches of Premier League financial regulations between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons. The commission determined that the club concealed owner funding and reduced operating costs through commercial agreements worth nearly £1 billion. Most non-cooperation charges with the Premier League investigation were also upheld. Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters called it "the most significant case in Premier League history." If Manchester City's appeal fails, a separate hearing will be held to determine sanctions.

According to PA Media, a statement submitted by Etihad to the U.S. government in 2015 may contradict Manchester City's defense. The club's defense will argue that state funding provided by the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Court was intended to help Emirati domestic sponsors meet their sponsorship obligations to Manchester City, rather than flowing to Abu Dhabi United Group, owned by Sheikh Mansour.

Documents from a U.S. Department of Commerce, Transportation, and State investigation into the state-owned airline include Etihad's statement: "The claim that the Abu Dhabi government paid sponsors for Etihad's Manchester City deal is false. In 2011, Etihad signed a 10-year sponsorship agreement with Manchester City, including naming rights to the stadium. Etihad paid sponsorship fees from its own liquidity and has consistently stated it receives no subsidy from the Abu Dhabi government."

Rui Pinto posted on social media that within hours of Manchester City's guilty verdict being officially confirmed, Portugal's witness protection program committee notified him that his participation would be terminated and police protection withdrawn. Pinto claims he has received multiple death threats and faces serious risk of assassination. He says he plans to relocate to an undisclosed location within days and has launched a fundraising campaign with a £2.5 million target. The Guardian reported that Pinto is willing to assist relevant English authorities in the case in exchange for protection.

According to The Daily Telegraph, Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham expressed concern about whether Manchester City's owner might be forced to leave the club. In a BBC interview, he stated that Manchester City's owner is an important partner in building modern Manchester and has helped Manchester City grow into a global force. The report also claims that the UAE has threatened to withdraw potential multi-billion pound investments from the Oxford-Cambridge Arc project in response to the guilty verdict. Lord Stocktonwood, former Minister of State for Investment, reportedly wrote to Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, inviting Mubadala and Abu Dhabi partners to visit the project.

Manchester City confirmed that the club has filed a full appeal against the Premier League commission's verdict. The club stated that the appeal was filed on October 1, 2026, at 7 p.m.

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