Manchester City will argue on appeal that Abu Dhabi government funds, not owner company ADUG, paid their sponsors, according to BBC Sport and the Press Association. The Man City appeal is not confirmed as filed, and the deadline is Friday.
The claim and the problem it faces
The commission already rejected the Crown Prince Court explanation, central to the Man City appeal, as “untrue”. It said City concocted it “well after the event”. Chief executive Ferran Soriano says City provided “irrefutable evidence”, including bank statements, money transfers and witnesses. He also says the case against City “is based on a single false accusation”. Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has also referred to “irrefutable evidence”.
The charges behind the Man City appeal claim
The commission found City guilty on 114 of 115 charges across 2009-10 to 2017-18. In addition, it alleged an £830.69m “disguised funding scheme”. Also, City deny guilt and say the decision is “unsafe”. Etihad, the club’s principal sponsor, is also considering legal action against the Premier League.
Reaction from the Man City appeal debate
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher wrote in the Daily Telegraph that Sheikh Mansour would have to sell if the appeal fails. Meanwhile, Gary Neville says the league is being “dragged through the mud”. In addition, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he would be “concerned” to lose the Abu Dhabi group as owners.
"We’re being dragged through the mud!" Gary and David Ornstein react to the latest developments in the Manchester City case and the wider state of the Premier League.
— The Overlap (@WeAreTheOverlap) October 1, 2026
What comes next
City signalled an intent to appeal by Friday. Therefore, Chelsea fans should watch for confirmation that City have lodged the Man City appeal. We will update this story when it arrives. Our earlier report covers the executives and commercial costs in the City case.
More on the Man City appeal: Man City News on the Man City appeal and LUFC News on the Man City appeal.
