Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterManchester City are expected to appeal their guilty verdict in relation to the 114 Premier League rule breaches by deploying a potentially controversial legal argument.The club will claim that disputed sponsorship funds were paid directly by the Abu Dhabi government rather than the club's individual owners, according to The Times' Chief Sports Correspondent Matt Lawton.The legal strategy, arguing that cash injections originated from state coffers rather than private owner funding, will reportedly form the basis of the club's official appeal following the independent commission's decision.Manchester City to try and use political loopholeThe argument highlights the geopolitical overlap between Premier League member clubs and their respective ownership groups.Man City's primary owner, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, is not solely an immensely wealthy private investor. Mansour is the vice president, deputy prime minister, and chairman of the United Arab Emirates. You may like Manchester City saw guilty verdict coming and made sure any transfer ban will be useless Manchester City could be stripped of Premier League titles after guilty verdict on nearly all charges: report Design your own Manchester City punishment - FourFourTwo plays judge and jury on 114 charges guilty verdict For over a decade, critics have pointed to the blurred lines between Sheikh Mansours private vehicle, the Abu Dhabi United Group (ADUG), and the state itself. Citys legal team reportedly intends to argue that commercial revenue from state-linked entities represented legitimate government funding rather than disguised owner equity intended to circumvent the Premier League's financial controls.However, this political defence faces a formidable hurdle. The independent commission that delivered the initial guilty verdict has already reviewed and rejected this supporting evidence. The initial panel ruled that the financial structures were deliberately constructed to conceal owner contributions and artificially inflate commercial revenue between 2009 and 2018.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.Under Premier League rules, a new independent appeal panel will be appointed to hear the case, although a different outcome to the original verdict is unlikely.Citys lawyers are betting that this fresh panel will take a different view of the distinction between state-backed funding and private owner investment.Should the appeal panel uphold the original commission's ruling and reject the government-funding defence for a second time, Manchester City will have exhausted their domestic legal recourse, clearing the way for unprecedented sanctions.TOPICSPremier LeagueJoe DonnohueSocial Links NavigationSenior Digital WriterJoe joined FourFourTwo as senior digital writer in July 2025 after five years covering Leeds United in the Championship and Premier League. Joe's 'Mastermind' specialist subject is 2000s-era Newcastle United having had a season ticket at St. James' Park for 10 years before relocating to Leeds and later London. Joe takes a keen interest in youth football, covering PL2, U21 Euros, as well as U20 and U17 World Cups in the past, in addition to hosting the industry-leading football recruitment-focused SCOUTED podcast. He is also one of the lucky few to have 'hit top bins' as a contestant on Soccer AM. It wasn't a shin-roller.
