Renowned sports journalist Ben Jacobs reports that Manchester City will argue that the alleged "inflated" sponsorship payments, totalling £830 million, originated from the Abu Dhabi government rather than from its owner, ADUG.

Manchester City will contend that the alleged "inflated" sponsorship payments, totalling £830 million, came from the Abu Dhabi government, not from its owner (ADUG). This applies to state-controlled entities such as Etihad Airways and Etisalat.

However, Etihad Airways previously dismissed claims of Abu Dhabi government funding as "false". Manchester City may cite a 2010 internal report prepared for Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince, which concluded that the Abu Dhabi government had indeed covered Manchester City's sponsorship costs. This report was not intended for public release. In the UEFA case, Manchester City denied that sponsorship funds from Etihad Airways (or any other company) came from any source other than direct payments.

Sheikh Mansour provided a letter stating: "I did not authorise ADUG to make payments to Etihad Airways, Etisalat, or any of their affiliates for their sponsorship of MCFC." In 2015, Open and Fair Skies Partnership wrote to the U.S. Departments of Commerce, Transportation, and State, arguing that Etihad Airways had gained a competitive advantage through substantial funding received from the Abu Dhabi government. They referenced the aforementioned internal report, which appeared to corroborate this.

However, Etihad Airways responded: "Claims that the Abu Dhabi government paid Etihad Airways' sponsorship fees for the Premier League club Manchester City are equally false. In 2011, Etihad Airways entered into a ten-year sponsorship agreement with Manchester City, which included naming rights to Manchester City's stadium. Etihad Airways financed this sponsorship from its own cash flow. It is not unusual for airlines to have sponsorship relationships with sports teams and their facilities." According to the judgment, Etihad Airways' denial that the Abu Dhabi government contributed to its sponsorship payments contradicts Manchester City's core argument that "Abu Dhabi sponsors, from time to time, turned to the Abu Dhabi government for financial assistance to fulfil their obligation to pay the recorded sponsorship fees."

Given redacted names, multiple sponsors, and the phrase "from time to time", Manchester City could potentially argue the case for other sponsors. However, according to several legal sources, Etihad Airways' public denial does not strengthen the club's position. It is also worth reiterating that the commission, having examined the evidence presented, has already concluded that any claim that the Abu Dhabi government rather than ADUG paid the inflated sums is "an ex post facto fabrication."

Tradotto dall'IA.

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