The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Neville backing City to see off ‘hopeless’ Uefa
APPEAL: Pundit predicts long court battle over decision to impose Euro ban
Gary Neville believes Manchester City will win their appeal against Uefa’s decision to ban the club from the Champions League and labelled the governing body “a hopeless organisation”.
City were fined 30 million euros (£24.9m) and given a two-year ban from Uefa club competitions on Friday after an investigation into accounts submitted by the club between 2012 and 2016.
The Premier League champions have appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against their punishment for “serious breaches” of Financial Fair Play rules.
Neville, a former Manchester United defender and joint-owner of Salford City, told Sky Sports: “If owners sign up to contracts or allow contracts to be signed under their ownership, they should have money in place to fulfil those contracts and I think Man City’s owners have got that.
“I think City will beat Uefa. Uefa, I have no faith in them whatsoever. I think essentially they are a hopeless organisation who will just apply what would be erratic disciplinary sanctions for different things and I think City will beat them in the courts.
“I think it will get stuck in the courts for some time, but I think City will win in the end.”
Jamie Carragher, a fellow pundit on Monday Night Football, questioned the timing of the decision by Uefa.
Pep Guardiola’s side face Real Madrid in the first leg of their last-16 tie in the tournament later this month.
The former Liverpool defender said: “I can’t believe they are in the competition now.
“What would happen if City win this competition this season?
“They are the favourites for it, one of the best teams in Europe and it would make a mockery of the competition.
“Uefa will be desperate for Man City to get beat by Real Madrid, absolutely desperate. Can you imagine people from Uefa having to give the cup in Istanbul to a Man City player.”