Rivals united to keep City out of Champions League
ENGLISH football’s top clubs have launched a stunning bid to stop Manchester City attempting to play in the Champions League while their appeal against a two-year ban is ongoing.
In a bombshell disclosure,
Sportsmail can reveal that the entire top 10 — with the exception of City and Sheffield United — have submitted a joint application to the Court of Arbitration for Sport which will hear City’s appeal against their punishment from UEFA for breaching Financial Fair Play rules.
The group, which includes the likes of Liverpool, Manchester
United, Arsenal and Chelsea, have separately written to the same law firm, which has then sent an application to the arbitration body.
It states that should City request that their punishment is ‘stayed’ while their appeal is ongoing, all the clubs will strongly object. It is understood, however, that such a request has not been lodged by the Premier League champions.
The move is a significant development. It provides a clear indication of the dim view that the rest of the top flight’s leading clubs have privately taken over City’s behaviour.
The ‘outraged’ position held by the group has been outlined by one source with knowledge of the situation.
‘The feeling is that enough is enough,’ said the source. ‘For too long, City have been able to get away with breaching the rules at the expense of at least one other club that has been unable to get into the Champions League.