Manchester City enter CAS hearing hoping to overturn UEFA ban

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Manchester City enter CAS hearing hoping to overturn UEFA ban

By Simon Evans

 

Soccer Football - Premier League - Today would have been the final fixtures of the season - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - May 17, 2020 A man is seen running outside the stadium at the time the final match of season between Manchester City and Norwich City was due to take place before it was postponed due to the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) REUTERS/Carl Recine TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

 

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - Manchester City will attempt to overturn their two-year UEFA ban from European football when a three-day hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland begins on Monday.

 

European soccer's governing body UEFA ruled in February that City had committed serious breaches of Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations and failed to cooperate with its investigation, handing them a ban and a 30 million euro (24.9 million pounds) fine.

 

Missing out on a Champions League season would cost City, who have denied wrongdoing, as much as 100 million pounds ($127 million) in prize money and broadcast revenue, as well as matchday and other revenues.

 

The FFP regulations are designed to stop clubs running up big losses through spending on players.

 

They also ensure that sponsorship deals are based on their real market value and are genuine commercial agreements -- and not ways for owners to pump cash into a club to get around the rules.

 

UEFA opened an investigation into City last March after the publication of 'Football Leaks' documents led to allegations that the club’s Abu Dhabi owners had inflated sponsorship agreements to comply with the FFP requirements.

 

The leaked documents included club emails which referred to money being "routed" through sponsors. Reuters was unable to verify if such payments were made https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/soccer-files-fairplay-mancity.

 

As well as questioning the nature of the documents, City have been unhappy at the way in which UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) conducted the investigation.

 

“The allegations are not true. They are simply not true,” City CEO Ferran Soriano said in a statement in February.

 

“We provided the evidence but in the end this FFP Investigatory Chamber relied more on out of context stolen emails than all the other evidence we provided of what actually happened and I think it is normal that we feel like we feel.

 

“Ultimately based on our experience and our perception this seems to be less about justice and more about politics,” added the Spaniard.

 

The Abu Dhabi United Group, the investment vehicle owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, is the majority owner of the City Football Group, with a stake of around 77%.

 

($1 = 0.7884 pounds)

 

(Reporting by Simon Evans; Editing by Toby Davis)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-06-08

 

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[Phuketshrew]

They should deduct 10 points from their EPL total from last season. YNWA

[Pedrogaz]

CAS need something like here where if your appeal fails, you get a double sentence. This is a cynical move by Man City because they have unlimited funds to avoid punishment.

[BMW Overlander]

3 hours ago, Phuketshrew said:

They should deduct 10 points from their EPL total from last season. YNWA

They should but as a LFC supporter I wouldn't like winning EPL title that way.

[RickG16]

1 hour ago, BMW Overlander said:

They should but as a LFC supporter I wouldn't like winning EPL title that way.

You don't need to win it that way. 

[champers]

If City lose the appeal it could be just the beginning of prolonged turmoil. The FA, who have been waiting for the outcome before passing their own judgement, will have free rein to be as draconian as they please. Beware a Rangers scenario. David Silva won't be the only one leaving.

[mrbojangles]

8 hours ago, champers said:

If City lose the appeal it could be just the beginning of prolonged turmoil. The FA, who have been waiting for the outcome before passing their own judgement, will have free rein to be as draconian as they please. Beware a Rangers scenario. David Silva won't be the only one leaving.

 

I sense a huge amount of wishful thinking their mate

[champers]

1 hour ago, mrbojangles said:

 

I sense a huge amount of wishful thinking their mate

No, I just think it could be an interesting situation. I actually think your owners will stick with the club come what may and City will start relying more on youth in the future rather than buying ready made additions to your squad.

A case in point is Jadon Sancho. Who would you rather have, him or Mahrez?

[mrbojangles]

10 hours ago, champers said:

No, I just think it could be an interesting situation. I actually think your owners will stick with the club come what may and City will start relying more on youth in the future rather than buying ready made additions to your squad.

A case in point is Jadon Sancho. Who would you rather have, him or Mahrez?

 

Youré right about the youth. Our owners invested massively on the academy and it's paying off, in terms of financials. The money we are getting for selling youth who have come through the academy has been quite profitable. Not every player will be a gold nugget but you are right, we need to try and convince the nuggets to stay. Sancho didn't want to wait for his break so took the risk and left. That's ok, we have earned good money from him and will get loads more when he is sold on again.

 

As you well know, the problem managers have (especially when owners have invested heavily) is winning trophies versus giving opportunities and bringing youth through. Managers jobs are on the line. That's why I agree with Pep when in an interview he called for the English leagues to have a similar set up to Spain. I.E. Barca B, RM B. This gives the youth opportunities to play against men and in front of crowds instead of playing in empty youth stadiums against other boys

 

[wilai]

24 minutes ago, mrbojangles said:

That's why I agree with Pep when in an interview he called for the English leagues to have a similar set up to Spain. I.E. Barca B, RM B. This gives the youth opportunities to play against men and in front of crowds instead of playing in empty youth stadiums against other boys

Agree as well and there may be some vacancies in the near future the way things are going!.......Barca and RM still send their better kids out on loan though, but maybe the spanish lower leagues are not as competitive as ours.

[wilai]

CAS Hearing concluded. Decision expected by mid July, not August as believed previously.