Neville says Premier League is being dragged through the mud as Man City plan appeal

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville says the Premier League is being “dragged through the mud” by the Manchester City case. Meanwhile, BBC Sport and the Press Association report that City will argue on appeal that Abu Dhabi government money, not owner funding, reached their sponsors. The Man City appeal is not confirmed as filed, and the deadline is Friday.

Neville’s view on the case

On Thursday’s Stick To Football podcast, Neville said of the Man City appeal: “This is now coming to our country. This is now coming to our league. This is the greatest export that we have in our country. At the moment we’re being dragged through the mud.”

What the Man City appeal is expected to say

BBC Sport and the PA report that City will tell an appeal board the sponsor money came via the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Court, not ADUG. However, the commission already rejected this as “untrue” and said City concocted it “well after the event”. In addition, City deny guilt and call the ruling “unsafe”. Also, City said on Tuesday evening that the decision contains “clear material errors, of law, principle and fact”.

The background to the Man City appeal

The commission found City guilty on 114 of 115 charges for 2009-10 to 2017-18. Furthermore, it alleged an £830.69m “disguised funding scheme”. Premier League rules allow state-owned bodies to sponsor clubs, so the dispute turns on where the money came from.

What comes next

City signalled an intent to appeal by Friday. Therefore, we will follow the case for United fans and update this story when City confirm the Man City appeal filing. 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 THFC News on the Man City appeal.