Manchester City has failed in an initial bid to have the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) half Uefa’s investigation into a possible breach of Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules.
City had been referred to Uefa’s financial watchdog and the Club Financial Control Body (CFCB). If found guilty, City could face a Champions League ban.
Their fate lies in the hands of five UEFA judges. Henceforth, this is a dispute that confuses most of Manchester City’s fans.
UEFA launched an investigation on the club. This after German newspaper Der Spiegel published leaked documents alleging City had inflated the value of a multimillion-pound sponsorship deal. The club alleged of misleading European football’s governing body.
Reports alleged City of deliberately misleading UEFA so they could meet FFP rules requiring clubs to break even.
Court of Arbitration for Sport said City’s appeal was “inadmissible” at this stage. CFCB has not yet determined what, if any, punishment would be applied if found guilty.
The Club has denied the wrongdoing. Additionally, City argued that UEFA did not have the authority to bring an FFP case against them.
The club pointed out that by asking CAS to intervene had not “exhausted the legal remedies available prior to the appeal.”
UEFA judges are now due to rule next month.
Is City planning on dodging the ban?
City believes the demands for a ban have been dissipated by UEFA’s fear that a prolonged legal fight could snare them in ruinously expensive legal arguments.
Suggestions are made that City will not give in to a fine and will demand total exoneration.
What seems certain is, If UEFA imposed a ban that was upheld by CAS, City would attempt to argue at the European Court that FFP is illegal.
Guardiola on the other hand believes the entire FFP rulebook was designed by Europe’s established clubs, with the support of the UEFA hierarchy to prevent breaking through the glass ceiling. In this case, the club has a very fair point.