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Eithad threatens to sue PL

The number of potential litigants in the wake of the Manchester City judgment increases every day, confirming my view that the real winners are top rank lawyers.

Etihad Airways has said it is considering legal action against the Premier League, claiming the judgment published this week against Manchester City incorrectly suggests the club’s principal sponsor has been “involved in improper commercial arrangements”. 

In a statement issued to The Times, Etihad “categorically rejects” that claim, complaining that at no point did “the Premier League reach out to or engage with Etihad” as part of the process. 

Etihad, which is Abu Dhabi’s state-owned airline and is valued at about £4billion, has been City’s principal sponsor since 2009, with the deal worth hundreds of millions to the club.

In a strongly worded statement on Wednesday, it said: “Etihad Airways has reviewed the Premier League Commission’s published opinion relating to the disciplinary proceedings involving Manchester City FC, together with the Premier League’s public communication of its findings.

“Etihad categorically rejects any finding, conclusion or implication that suggests the airline has ever been involved in improper commercial arrangements. The Premier League’s public communication of the Commission’s findings, following a period of selective leaks and reporting, has further created damaging implications for Etihad despite the airline not being named in the redacted published findings.


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