Manchester City won its appeal to the Sports Arbitration Panel (CAS) for alleged violations of financial fair play (FFP) and may play in the Champions League next season, it was announced on Monday.
City was initially excluded from European competitions for two seasons, but won the CAS appeal, meaning fifth place in the Premier League is no longer qualified for the Champions League. Manchester United are currently fifth in the table.
An initial fine of EUR 30 million was also reduced to EUR 10 million after Monday’s judgment.
A CAS statement said: “The CAS price emphasized that most of the alleged violations reported by the CFCB Judicial Chamber were either undetermined or time-barred.
“Since the dishonest concealment of the equity financing was clearly more serious than hindering the CFCB’s investigation, it was not appropriate to ban UEFA club competitions because MCFC had not worked with the CFCB investigation alone.
“Considering i) the financial resources of MCFC, ii) the importance of association collaboration in investigations undertaken by the CFCB due to its limited investigative resources, and iii) MCFC’s disregard of this principle and its interference with the investigation, The CAS- The Panel considered that MCFC should be fined significantly and considered it appropriate to reduce UEFA’s original fine by 2/3, ie to EUR 10 million. “
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City brought their case to CAS on June 8 after initially being banned from UEFA competition and fined € 30 million by the Adjudicatory Chamber of the Independent Club Financial Control Body (CFCB).
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A statement from Manchester City said: “While Manchester City and its legal advisors have not yet reviewed the full decision of the Sports Arbitration Panel (CAS), the club welcomes the impact of today’s decision as confirmation of the club’s position and body. The club would like to thank the panel members for their care and proper procedures. “
The CFCB found that City committed “serious violations” of FFP rules between 2012 and 2016 – which limit the net losses clubs can suffer over a three-year period – and did not participate in the subsequent investigation.
The club was said to “overvalued its sponsor earnings in its accounts and break-even information submitted to UEFA between 2012 and 2016”.
In response, City claimed that the trial was “flawed” and that there was “irrefutable evidence” that would lead them to win an appeal. FFP was introduced by UEFA at the beginning of the 2011/12 season to prevent clubs from getting into financial difficulties due to excessive spending.
Before Monday’s verdict, manager Pep Guardiola had also expressed confidence that City would lift the ban.
“The intention is to play the Champions League as best as possible every season. It’s not Monday,” said Guardiola.
“On Monday I’m so confident because I know and hear the club’s arguments. We’ll be there next season and after I give my opinion, the club will make a statement.”
A statement from UEFA said: “UEFA notes the Sports Arbitration Panel’s decision to reduce the sanction against Manchester City FC by UEFA’s independent club financial control agency for alleged violations of UEFA’s club license and financial fair play rules .
“UEFA notes that the CAS Panel has determined that there is insufficient conclusive evidence to support all of the CFCB’s conclusions in this particular case, and that many of the alleged violations were due to the five-year period set out in UEFA’s regulations Years have expired.
“Financial fair play has played an important role in protecting clubs and their financial sustainability in recent years, and UEFA and ECA remain committed to their principles.
“UEFA will make no further comments on this matter.”
City can continue to compete in the Champions League this season. They have a 2-1 lead in the first leg ahead of Real Madrid in the round of 16 and will either play against Juventus or Lyon in the quarter-finals if they progress.
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