Etihad Airways Set to Pursue Legal Action Against Premier League as Fallout From City Verdict Grows

Etihad Airs Its Grievances

Etihad Airways has hit out at the Premier League's handling of the case that found Manchester City guilty of breaching financial rules, insisting it was never "given the opportunity by the Premier League to be represented, to provide relevant information, or to ensure the accuracy and fairness of information relied upon".

The statement landed shortly before City's appeal was confirmed and adds another dimension to a case already centred on the club's sponsorship arrangements, with the airline identified as one of City's principal sponsors at the heart of the dispute.

Responding to the airline's intervention, lawyer James Severn, a member of the London Solicitor Litigation Association (LSLA) and partner at Penningtons Manches Cooper, told BBC Sport that Etihad's complaint "does not, of itself, establish procedural unfairness".

"Etihad was not the respondent and is unlikely to have had an independent right to participate in the proceedings," Severn said. "It is likely to have been open to either party to obtain and present such evidence to the Commission. If the Appeal Board is prepared to consider new evidence from Etihad, it is likely to carry greater weight if supported by contemporaneous documents."

A Wider Legal Threat

The airline's frustration is part of a broader escalation. As reported on 30 September 2026, Etihad was weighing legal action of its own against the Premier League over the commission's findings, with the airline signalling it would take advice on protecting its interests while reiterating its commitment to the club and its supporters.

"Our commitment to Manchester City, its supporters and our shared partnership remains strong," Etihad said at the time. "We stand with the club, its supporters and our wider Etihad community as Manchester City challenges the commission's conclusions through the processes available to it."

With City facing a deadline to appeal, the prospect of separate legal proceedings involving the club's most prominent commercial partner has added another layer of complexity to one of the most significant disciplinary cases in Premier League history.

Rival Players and Agents Eye Compensation

The ramifications are not confined to the boardroom. According to reporting on 1 October 2026, Premier League players and agents are lining up potential compensation claims against Manchester City over lost bonuses in the event the club fail to overturn their guilty verdict.

Players and coaches at rival clubs who missed out on European qualification or a trophy could argue they were denied financial incentives as a result of City's conduct.

"This is exactly what impacted players and their representatives are consulting lawyers on," the report noted.

Reporting also indicated that Manchester City continue to deny any wrongdoing, with Sky Sports News expecting the club to file its appeal before the deadline, while warning that the appeal process could drag on into next year.