Manchester City will play in the Champions League next season after a ruling overturning their ban. Here's why they were banned, and why their appeal was successful
(Image credit: Michael Regan/NMC Pool)
Manchester City have had their two-year ban from European competition overturned following an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
UEFA issued the ban in February but the club have had the punishment overturned (Tim Goode/PA)
In February European governing body UEFA found City guilty of breaching its Financial Fair Play regulations, imposing a ban of two years from European competition and issuing a fine of £26.7million. The charges stemmed from a series of allegations, based on leaked information, published in German magazine Der Spiegel in November 2018. The most serious claimed City had over-inflated sponsorship deals to disguise payments into the club from its owner and meet FFP requirements. These alleged breaches took place in a period from 2012-16. City were previously fined £49million for FFP breaches in 2014 but the latest allegations claimed the club deceived UEFA more than was realised at the time.
What did the appeal to CAS find?
Manchester City / UEFA decision13.07.2020 10:30— TAS-CAS Observatory – Rapporteur (@ArbitralduSport) July 13, 2020
CAS has ruled City “did not disguise equity funding as sponsorship contributions” and so the European ban has been lifted. It pointed out the charges were “either not established or time-barred”. However, a fine of £8.9million has been imposed after City were found not to have co-operated fully with UEFA’s investigation.
What has been the reaction?
City had always been confident of winning the case, once it had been viewed by an independent body such as CAS, having previously claimed UEFA’s process was “flawed”. The club has said it “welcomes the implications of (the) ruling as a validation of the club’s position”. UEFA has acknowledged the decision and recognised many of the charges fell outside “the five-year time period foreseen in the UEFA regulations”.
What does this mean for City?
There had been speculation over the future of key players such as Kevin De Bruyne (left) and Raheem Sterling (right) (Anthony Devlin/PA)
The implications for City in the short to medium term, had the ban been upheld, were potentially serious. There would have been speculation over the futures of manager Pep Guardiola and several key players such as Kevin De Bruyne, Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling. The club’s ability to attract players in the transfer market would also have been hit and the club’s off-field reputation would have suffered, potentially hindering future sponsorship agreements. Financially there would also have been a significant hit from the absence of Champions League football. This would undoubtedly have set the club’s ambitions back. Now they can plan ahead with greater certainty.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
So City will be in the Champions League next season?
City will be able to challenge for the Champions League again next season (Nick Potts/PA)
Yes. They are already mathematically certain of finishing in a qualifying position following the weekend’s results in the Premier League. They will join champions Liverpool in the competition next year with England’s other two entrants being the sides that finish third and fourth. Fifth will no longer qualify – although Wolves and Manchester United have an additional avenue through the Europa League.
What does this mean for FFP?
UEFA takes note of the decision taken by the Court of Arbitration for Sport to reduce the sanction imposed on Manchester City FC…— UEFA (@UEFA) July 13, 2020
City’s victory will lead some to question whether FFP is enforceable in its current form. UEFA insists that the system will be maintained. It said in a statement: “Over the last few years, Financial Fair Play has played a significant role in protecting clubs and helping them become financially sustainable and UEFA and ECA (European Club Association) remain committed to its principles.”
