BLUES BANNED FROM EUROPE

CITY VOW TO FIGHT UEFA AND OVERTURN ‘FLAWED’ RULING

● CITY BOOTED OUT OF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FOR TWO SEASONS AND FINED ¤30 MILLION

● UEFA FINDS CLUB COMMITTED ‘SERIOUS BREACHES’ OF FINANCIAL FAIR PLAY REGULATIONS

● BOSSES WILL APPEAL BOMBSHELL DECISION

CITY remain confident they will overturn their two-year Champions League ban and 30m euro fine after vowing to fight UEFA.

The Blues, who have been punished by the governing body for ‘serious breaches’ of financial regulations, say they do not consider last night’s shock decision to be the final ruling on the investigation. The football world was stunned as Pep Guardiola’s side were banned from all European competitions for the next two seasons as the verdict was returned on the Financial Fair Play investigation.

But City say UEFA have played judge, jury and executioner and that the process was ‘flawed’.

The Blues’ immediate response to the ruling from UEFA’s adjudicatory chamber was that they were ‘disappointed but not surprised’ and that they would be appealing it at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

They added: “The club has always anticipated the ultimate need to seek out an independent body and process to impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence in support of its position. In December 2018, the UEFA Chief Investigator publicly previewed the outcome and sanction he intended to be delivered to Manchester City, before any investigation had even begun.

“The subsequent flawed and consistently leaked UEFA process he oversaw has meant that there was little doubt in the result that he would deliver. The club has formally complained to the UEFA Disciplinary body, a complaint which was validated by a CAS ruling.”

That is why when they return to CAS, which will be done swiftly their last hearing was denied on the basis of all legal avenues had not been exhausted, which no longer applies - they are confident that a fair and independent hearing will clear them.

UEFA have struck a serious blow by handing out such a severe punishment, but City do not expect that to be the final word on the matter.