Man City Deny Breaching UEFA Financial Rules

By Nigel Philips

Manchester City says they are "disappointed, but regrettably not surprised" with their referral to the adjudicatory chamber of Uefa's Financial Control Panel.

Uefa investigators want City to be banned from the Champions League for a season if they are found guilty of breaking Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules.

Chief investigator, Yves Leterme, has made his recommendation, though it is not yet known if he will support a ban on the English club.

Manchester City said in a statement on Wednesday: "The accusation of financial irregularities remains entirely false".

Former Belgian Prime Minister, Yves Leterme, who is the Chairman of the investigative panel of Uefa's Independent Financial Control Board (CFCB IC), said his team assessed evidence uncovered in a series of leaks published by German newspaper, Der Spiegel, last year.

The reports alleged that Manchester City broke FFP regulations by inflating the value of a multimillion-pound sponsorship deal.

The Etihad outfit and 2018/19 Premier League Champions were fined £49m in 2014 for a previous breach of the regulations.

Uefa said Leterme, "after having consulted with the other members of the independent investigatory chamber", decided "to refer Manchester City FC to the CFCB adjudicatory chamber following the conclusion of his investigation".