Manchester City have responded vigorously to claims by Arsene Wenger that their commercial deal with Etihad Airways calls into question Uefa’s Financial Fair Play rules.
Manchester City have responded vigorously to claims by Arsene Wenger that their commercial deal with Etihad Airways calls into question Uefa’s Financial Fair Play rules.
Wenger’s argument is that the rules will be rendered meaningless unless Uefa’s analysts decide that City’s income from Etihad is in excess of the sum a club of their size could reasonably expect. Wenger said, ‘It raises the real question about the credibility of Financial Fair Play. That is what it is all about. They give us the message they can get it around in by doing what they want. It means Financial Fair Play will not come in. It is as simple as that.’
Arsenal’s medium-term strategy (and that of Liverpool) is premised on the assumption that the Financial Fair Play rules will be rigorously enforced. Arsenal struck a naming rights deak for their stadium with Emirates in 2004 worth far less than City’s new sponsorship: £100m over 15 years, which also included shirt sponsorship for eight years.
City said yesterday, ‘The financial details of the agreement between Manchester City and Etihad Airways remain confidential and figures being speculated about are not accurate. Manchester City is a proactive member of the European Club Association [the Uefa body that succeeded the more exclusive G-14] and is working actively and with transparency with regard to Financial Fair Play. In light of these facts, recent comments about the partnership by some observers are unfounded and regrettable.’