European football’s financial fair play rules risk being “scuppered” if Manchester City overturn their two-season ban from continental competition, according to a soccer analyst.
UEFA announced the punishment on Friday and also imposed a fine of 30 million euros ($32 million, o25 million) on the English champions for what it said were City’s serious breaches of its FFP regime.
City, however, wasted little time in responding by saying they would appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in the hope of securing an “impartial judgment”.
Since the Sheikh Mansour takeover in 2008, which put the financial might of Abu Dhabi behind them, City have won 10 major trophies – including four Premier League titles.
Yet the prize that has eluded them is the one the Abu Dhabi project most desires – the UEFA Champions League.
The Chinese government have provided City with additional backing, as has US private equity firm Silver Lake.
They are all set to ensure City has a no expense spared legal team that will challenge the validity of UEFA’s ruling.
