MANCHESTER CITY could miss out on £170MILLION after being booted out of the Champions League over ‘serious’ FFP breaches.
The Cityzens have been found guilty of seriously misleading European football’s governing body and breaking Financial Fair play rules.
Pep Guardiola’s Man City have been banned from the Champions League for two years – but it could cost them a fortune off the pitchCredit: Reuters
That led to the reigning Premier League title holders being hit with a two-year ban from the Champions League and European football as well as a £25m fine.
City have already vowed to fight the punishment and will appeal to the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) in Lausanne.
CAS, whose regulations state will have the final say on the matter, has the power to confirm the ban, reduce it or send it back to Uefa’s Club Financial Control Body (CFCB).
But if they are unsuccessful then the lack of Champions League action will affect a lot more than a potential player exodus and Pep Guardiola’s future.
In addition to the £25m fine, they will also be without the huge revenue competing in Europe’s prestige competition brings.
Of course it all depends on how far they advance, but last season they made a huge £72.2m and the prize money has gone up again this term.
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And that is believed to be around the £153m mark for the winners.
Add in the reduced exposure for potential sponsorship deals and lack of gate receipts and match-day revenue, the overall total is eye-watering to club chiefs.
And with the FFP in play, a reduced revenue will mean reduced spend and City would have to cut costs accordingly.
And that could lead to the departure of big-hitters such as Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling as well as boss Guardiola.
City are hopeful they can overturn the decision and plan to battle Uefa all the way.
A club statement said: “Manchester City is disappointed but not surprised by today’s announcement by the Uefa Adjudicatory Chamber.
“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.
“Simply put, this is a case initiated by Uefa, prosecuted by Uefa and judged by Uefa.
“With this prejudicial process now over, the Club will pursue an impartial judgement as quickly as possible and will therefore, in the first instance, commence proceedings with the Court of Arbitration for Sport at the earliest opportunity.”
Manchester City banned from Champions League for two years and hit with £25m fine by Uefa
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
