UEFA Bans Man. City From Champions League; Set To Appeal

UEFA has banned English premier league reigning champions, Manchester City, from the Champions League for two seasons.

The ban is for “serious breaches” of European soccer’s financial regulations. Aside the ban, Man City has been fined 30 million euros ($32.5 million).

Manchester City had reportedly sought to short circuit an investigation by financial regulators at UEFA — and preserve its place in the Champions League, European soccer’s richest competition and the trophy the club covets most — by appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

However, in November 2019, the court rejected the appeal, in which City had tried to end the investigation on procedural grounds, by ruling that it could not hear the case until the club had exhausted the disciplinary process at UEFA.

The blues has denied all of the accusations against it and is likely to mount a vigorous appeal now that the punishment has been imposed.

In a statement responding to the ban, Man City said they were “disappointed but not surprised” with UEFA’s “prejudicial” decision.

Man City stated that they felt that this was ultimately the decision UEFA would arrive at unless an impartial body had investigated the matter.

“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.

Man City claim that UEFA’s investigation was “flawed” and that the club has “formally complained to the Uefa disciplinary body, a complaint which was validated by a CAS ruling.”

“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 judgment as quickly as possible and will, therefore, in the first instance, commence proceedings with the Court of Arbitration for Sport at the earliest opportunity.”