Manchester City’s two-year UEFA ban on European football has been lifted by the Sports Arbitration Panel (CAS).
Important points:
- Manchester City was excluded from European competitions in February
- You have been accused of violating financial fair play rules
- After the ban has been lifted, the club will play in the Champions League next season
CAS decided that the English club would not violate the rules of Financial Fair Play (FFP) by disguising equity funding as sponsorship.
However, the club was fined 10 million euros ($ 16.2 million) for not working with the European football association UEFA.
In a statement released by Manchester City on Monday morning local time, the owners welcomed the news and called the verdict a “validation” of the evidence they submitted for the appeal.
“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 the evidence it was able to present,” the statement said .
“The club thanks the panel members for their care and the due process they have followed.”
City was excluded from all European competitions by UEFA for two years in February.
UEFA accused the Abu Dhabi club of violating the 2011 FFP.
FFP stipulates that clubs have to balance their books, which means that football-related expenses – such as player transfers and salaries – cannot outweigh the revenue from their commercial departments, including television rights and ticket sales.
UEFA accused Manchester City of violating these rules over a four-year period.
“The Court of Justice, after reviewing all evidence, has determined that the Manchester City Football Club has committed serious violations of the license and fair play provisions of the UEFA club by placing its sponsorship income in its accounts and in the break-even times submitted to UEFA – Information overrated in 2012 and 2016, “said UEFA in the February statement.
“The Court of Justice also found that the club did not cooperate in investigating the case if the rules are violated.”
At that point, this would have prevented City from playing in the next season’s Champions League, which they will qualify for by finishing second in the English Premier League this season.
The ruling will affect other English clubs as two of England’s four Champions League spots are now filled.
The four best teams at the end of the season qualify for the Champions League.
Champions Liverpool has also booked its place in addition to City.
The remaining two places are still available, six teams still have the chance to be among the first four.
Chelsea and Leicester City are currently third and fourth with three games.
ABC / Reuters
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