Timeline of MCFC’s downfall

Chronology of events that led to Manchester City two-season European club competition ban and €30 million (RM135m) fine for breaching financial fair play regulations:

Nov 5, 2018

German publication Der Spiegel claims Man City misled UEFA by not revealing they had directed money to the club from Abu Dhabi owner Sheikh Mansour via sponsors linked to him, and artificially inflated the value of their commercial income to help meet FFP rules requiring clubs to break even.

March 2019

UEFA begins investigating the club for potential breaches of its FFP regulations.

May 13, 2019

The New York Times reports that UEFA’s financial watchdog – the Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) – which is effectively the ‘prosecution’ in this process – were pushing for expulsion from the Champions League for at least one season.

May 16, 2019

City say they are “disappointed, but regrettably not surprised” after being referred to UEFA’s financial control body adjudicatory chamber.

June 2019

City file an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas). They challenge UEFA’s decision to refer them to its financial watchdog, the CFCB, which would decide on any punishment.

Nov 2019

City fail in an initial bid to have Cas halt UEFA’s investigation.

Feb 12, 2020

Cas publishes documents that show City sought damages from UEFA for what they alleged were “unlawful” leaks to the media with regards to an inquiry into possible FFP breaches.

Feb 14, 2020

City are banned from European club competition for the next two seasons after being found to have committed “serious breaches” of UEFA’s club licensing and financial fair play regulations. The Premier League champions say they are “disappointed but not surprised” by the “prejudicial” decision and will appeal.