---
title: "Manchester City faces tax implications scrutiny from HMRC"
url: https://noti.group/manchester-city-faces-tax-implications-scrutiny-from-hmrc/
language: en
publisher: "Noti Group"
section: "Sports"
published: 2026-10-01T17:23:09.000Z
updated: 2026-10-01T18:25:06.993Z
id: fba5d5ed-82df-4f8d-835b-ef01ae6c4b9e
source: "BBC Sport https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cjkg7g93y5yno?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss"
attribution: "Link to https://noti.group/manchester-city-faces-tax-implications-scrutiny-from-hmrc/ and name Noti Group when you quote or summarize this story."
---

# Manchester City faces tax implications scrutiny from HMRC

A cross-party group of MPs has urged HMRC to scrutinise the tax implications of a recent Premier League verdict against Manchester City.

A cross-party group of MPs is urging HMRC to scrutinise the tax implications of a recent Premier League verdict against Manchester City.

The independent commission that reviewed the case found City guilty of all charges related to breaches of the league's financial regulations from 2009-10 to 2017-18. The club has consistently denied any wrongdoing and plans to appeal by Friday, with their intention to do so already announced publicly.

The independent commission's report revealed that Manchester City artificially inflated revenue through sponsorship agreements that were allegedly "sham deals. These agreements were facilitated by the club's owners, who used complex arrangements to disguise the true extent of certain liabilities.

Dame Meg Hillier, chair of the Treasury Committee, has written to HMRC to ask if they have requested access to redacted documents within the commission's report. The committee is responsible for overseeing policies and administration of HMRC, and Dame Hillier wants reassurance that HMRC understands the significance of this case and its implications.

Manchester City plans to argue in their appeal that key sponsorship deals were actually funded by the Abu Dhabi government, rather than the club's owners. This claim could potentially alter the course of the investigation and raise further questions about the role of external parties in the club's financial dealings.

The financial dealings of Manchester City are under intense scrutiny as a new claim emerges about the source of funds used by the club. According to sources, the Abu Dhabi government may have been involved in directing money to sponsors, contradicting earlier statements made by the club's owners.

This revelation could potentially alter the course of an ongoing investigation into the club's financial dealings and raise questions about the role of external parties in its finances. The independent commission that previously reviewed the matter had rejected this argument as untrue, describing it as a post-factum explanation intended to obscure the truth.

The claim is significant because it challenges the earlier assertion made by Manchester City that its owners, Abu Dhabi United Group, were solely responsible for providing funds to the club. The independent commission's findings had already sparked controversy, with the club arguing that there were clear material errors in the decision-making process.

Manchester City's chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, has referred to irrefutable evidence supporting the club's claims of innocence. However, the latest development suggests that a more complex picture may be emerging about the involvement of external parties in the club's finances.

The Abu Dhabi government's potential role in providing funds to Manchester City is significant because it involves state-owned bodies and raises questions about the application of Premier League rules governing sponsorship deals.

The controversy surrounding Manchester City's financial dealings has taken a new turn as Etihad Airways, the club's principal sponsor, considers taking legal action against the Premier League.

Etihad has denied any wrongdoing, stating that it categorically rejects any finding, conclusion or implication" that suggests the airline was involved in improper commercial arrangements. The UAE national carrier is owned by L'Imad, a sovereign wealth fund chaired by the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, who is also the son of the UAE president.

The Premier League has declined to comment on the matter when approached by BBC Sport. This lack of response adds to the uncertainty surrounding Manchester City's situation and raises further questions about the application of Premier League rules governing sponsorships.

The Etihad Airways' stance highlights the complex web of interests involved in this case, with state-owned bodies potentially playing a significant role.

---
Source: [BBC Sport](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cjkg7g93y5yno?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss)  
Published by Noti Group: https://noti.group/manchester-city-faces-tax-implications-scrutiny-from-hmrc/
