UEFA Ban Man City From Champions League For Two Seasons
English champions Manchester City have been handed a two-season ban from European football by the Union of European Football Association(UEFA) for breaking Financial Fair Play rules.
City have also been accused of breaching UEFA’s club licensing regulations and have been fined £25m.
The club have the right to appeal the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and they have already released a club statement indicating their willingness of taking up that option.
They released a statement, reading: "Manchester City is disappointed but not surprised by today's announcement by the UEFA Adjudicatory Chamber. The club has always anticipated the ultimate need to seek out an independent body and process to impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence in support of its position.
"In December 2018, the UEFA Chief Investigator publicly previewed the outcome and sanction he intended to be delivered to Manchester City, before any investigation had even begun. The subsequent flawed and consistently leaked UEFA process he oversaw has meant that there was little doubt in the result that he would deliver. The club has formally complained to the UEFA Disciplinary body, a complaint which was validated by a CAS ruling.
"Simply put, this is a case initiated by UEFA, prosecuted by UEFA and judged by UEFA. With this prejudicial process now over, the club will pursue an impartial judgement as quickly as possible and will therefore, in the first instance, commence proceedings with the Court of Arbitration for Sport at the earliest opportunity."
Man City have been drawn to face Real Madrid in the round of 16 stage of the Champions League this season.
Should they fail with their appeal to have the ban overturned, Man City, who are currently second in the Premier League, will have their place in Europe taken by the fifth placed side if they finish in the top four.
