It was announced earlier this week that Manchester City’s European ban has been overturned after the Court of Arbitration for Sport cleared the club of ‘disguising equity funds as sponsorship contributions’ (as per BBC Sport).
UEFA issued the 2018/19 Premier League winners with a two-year ban from European competition after ruling that the club had breached Financial Fair Play regulations between 2012 and 2016. The club were also going to be fined €30m (£27.28m); however, following CAS’ intervention, that fine has been reduced to €10m (£9.09m).
However, Kieran Maguire on The Price of Football podcast has been discussing how European football’s governing body could still go after City, he said:
“UEFA’s only avenue that they can go down is to apply to a Swiss federal court. Historically, that’s not proven to be very successful for people that have had cases lost at CAS. I appreciate they’re under a lot of pressure from the European elite. It would be expensive, it would be time-consuming.”
Maguire also suggested that City would likely be prepared for such action and described what they could do to ensure they are able to compete in the competition next season.
“I’m sure that Manchester City would also set up for an injunction if that was the case, which would either prevent the Champions League taking place in 2021 or say that City are allowed to compete in it until the Swiss federal court case takes place itself.”
Are you expecting UEFA to take this case to the Swiss Federal Court?
Yes
No
TIF Thoughts…
Judging by Maguire’s comments, it appears this saga involving UEFA and the Manchester-based club could rumble on for quite some time. He made reference to the pressure the governing body will be under from the “European elite” and we believe that will be a factor when they plan their next move – whatever that may be.