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Wenger and City clash over Etihad deal

Arsene Wenger has been critical of Manchester City's sponsorship deal © PA Photos

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Arsene Wenger has accused Manchester City of putting the credibility of UEFA's financial fair play rules under threat with their new stadium rights deal, but the club have insisted they have done nothing wrong.

City have struck a sponsorship deal with Etihad Airways, which includes naming rights to their stadium, for a sum believed to be worth upwards of £300 million over 10 years.

Conspiracy theorists are suggesting that as Etihad are the national airways of Abu Dhabi, home of Blues owner Sheikh Mansour, they have artificially inflated the sum to help City achieve UEFA's demand of living within their means.

It would appear Wenger is from this camp, as he said: "It raises the real question about the credibility of the financial fair play.

"They give us the message that they can get around it by doing what they want. The difficulty and the credibility of the financial fair play is at stake.

"If financial fair play is to have a chance, the sponsorship has to be at the market price. It cannot be doubled, tripled or quadrupled. If they bring the rules in they have to be respected.

"He [UEFA president Michel Platini] is very strongly determined on that. He is not stupid, he knows that some clubs will try to get around that.

"At the moment I believe they are studying, behind closed doors, how they can really strongly check it. That is his big test."

City have hit back at Wenger, with a spokesman saying: "The financial details of the comprehensive agreement announced last week between Manchester City and Etihad Airways remain confidential and figures being speculated about are not accurate.

"Manchester City is a pro-active member of the European Clubs Association 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."

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