This isn’t Armageddon
City: We knew this was coming but it’s just another milestone in our quest to clear our name
Manchester City came out fighting last night in their bid to win a Champions League reprieve by insisting: “This isn’t Armageddon.”
The Premier League champs were hit by a two-year Euro ban and a £25million f ine by UEFA on Friday for failing to comply with Financial Fair Play rules.
But City are certain that they will win their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The club’s Abu Dhabi owners – and their Chinese and American partners – are also refusing to rule out the prospect of taking their case to the civil courts.
But while the Champions League ban would cost City a staggering £200m in TV and prize money alone, if upheld, the defiant response from the Etihad Stadium is that the battle is far from over.
A senior boardroom source said: “This isn’t Armageddon. We pretty much knew the outcome of UEFA’s investigation from the moment it was referred to their Adjudicatory Chamber last May.
“So our stance is that this is just another milestone in our quest to clear the name of the club.
“We rema in ut t er ly convinced that when we put our evidence before the CAS we will see this decision overturned.
“We welcome the prospect of UEFA giving their reasons for making their decision and having our response heard by an independent body.”
City have two weeks to lodge their appeal but it remains to be seen whether the CAS are able to sit in judgment before the start of next season. That means City could sti l l take their place in the Champions League for the 2020-21 campaign if they finish in the top four.
“We have no preference as to when the matter is heard,” added the source.
“The only thing we have asked for during this entire episode is that City are given a fair hearing.”
Manager Pep Guardiola and his squad were informed of UEFA’s stunning decision hours before the judgment was made public.
It is claimed that the club falsely inflated money generated by sponsorship deals between 2012 and 2016.
They were fined £49m by UEFA six years ago for FFP violations – although £ 32m was subsequently paid back.
But a series of hacked emails published by German magazine Der Spiegel in November 2018 sparked another investigation.
That inquiry has complicated the club’s plans to open talks with their gaffer about the prospect of signing a new contract.
The Catalan will likely keep his options open about extending his stay beyond five years – but there is a belief he will not walk away in the summer.
City also face the task of convincing star players such as Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem
Sterling and Sergio Aguero to trust in their assurances that they will beat any ban.
But what is certain is that Guardiola’s plan to overhaul his squad at the end of the season has been made much tougher by UEFA’s punishment.
There is, however, no prospect of owner Sheikh Mansour cashing in on an investment that has seen him spend £1billion transforming City into the Premier League’s top team over the last decade.
A 13 per cent stake in the City Football Group that owns the club as well as teams in China, Japan, India, Australia, Spain, Uruguay and the United States was sold to China Media Capital in 2015.
And another 10 per cent share was bought by giant American equity firm Silver Lake for £ 389m last November.
Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak made it clear at the time that Mansour would not be taking a single penny from the transaction.
The City source insisted: “The aim of Sheikh Mansour in 2009 was to make City the best club in the Premier League.
“Does he want to win the Champions League? Of course, that’s an achievement that puts you into a Hall of Fame only occupied by an elite group of clubs.
“But the suggestion that we would have swapped last season’s Treble to win the Champions League simply isn’t true.
“Losing revenue from the Champions League would be a blow but Liverpool, Man United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham have all failed to qualify for the tournament without it being ruinous.”
We welcome the prospect of UEFA giving their reasons for the decision .. all we’ve asked is that City get a fair hearing
WHAT DID MANCHESTER CITY DO WRONG?
According to UEFA, City overstated sponsorship revenues between 2012 and 2016 to meet Financial Fair Play Regulations.
They reached their conclusion after an investigation into City based on hacked emails published in a German magazine.
ARE THEY GOING TO APPEAL?
City will take their case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne. The appeal will be heard by three people – one appointed by UEFA, one by City and an independent arbitrator appointed by CAS.
WHAT ARE THEIR CHANCES OF SUCCESS WITH THE
APPEAL?
City claim the emails on which UEFA’s findings are based were illegally accessed and taken out of context. They insist they have evidence that will blow the decision apart.
DOES THIS PUT PEP’S FUTURE IN DOUBT?
Guardiola has made no secret of his desire to win the Champions League again. His contract expires in 2021 and the timescale involved in arranging an appeal could see City compete in Europe next season.