Source: Team_Talk
UEFA chief questions City deal
UEFA's financial fair play boss has revealed he has "some questions" about Manchester City's sponsorship deal with Etihad Airways.[LNB] The Abu Dhabi government-owned airline, the club's shirt sponsors, last month struck a new 10-year deal for stadium naming rights and to fund the proposed new Etihad Campus.[LNB]City did not disclose financial details but it was reported the agreement was worth £400million.[LNB]With Etihad having close links to City's owner Sheikh Mansour, a member of the Abu Dhabi royal family, some critics have suggested this could be an attempt to circumvent UEFA's new financial fair play regulations.[LNB]Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger last month called on the European governing body to investigate the matter.[LNB]Jean-Luc Dehaene, chairman of UEFA's Club Financial Control Panel, was on Tuesday quoted by the BBC saying: "I have some questions, yes.[LNB]"But it would be dangerous for our authority if we take judgements without facts."[LNB]He added: "If we see clubs that are looking for loopholes we will act.[LNB]"It is not enough to say, 'We've got a sponsorship contract and that's okay' if the contract is out of line."[LNB]City have previously said the speculated figures concerning the Etihad deal are "not accurate".[LNB]City have also underlined the importance of the agreement to the Etihad Campus project, which will feature a new 80-acre state-of-the-art training complex near to the Etihad Stadium.[LNB]The facility will also include an academy for 400 players, 16 football pitches, injury rehabilitation units, a 7,000-capacity stadium and staff offices.[LNB]City chief executive Garry Cook told the BBC: "The Etihad Campus, which constitutes some 210 acres is unique in its breadth, depth and length of term.[LNB]"It involves the tradition, which is shirt sponsorship, the naming rights of the stadium, but what we haven't seen in football is a campus, creating a place to be, to work.[LNB]"We've got a great relationship with Etihad. It's a long-term programme and they are equally very excited by it."
