Man City facing 1-season ban from Champions League

By: Rob Harris And Steve Douglas, The Associated Press Posted: 9:29 AM CDT Tuesday, May. 14, 2019 Last Modified: 9:30 AM CDT Tuesday, May. 14, 2019

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Manchester City has not been co-operating with investigators and is facing a one-season ban from the Champions League for violating financial monitoring rules, a person familiar with the case told The Associated Press.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 14/05/2019 (2700 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

City released a statement Tuesday saying the club has provided “comprehensive proof” that it did not break financial regulations, but the person said the Champions League ban is being pursued by UEFA financial investigators, confirming a New York Times report. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the case is confidential and ongoing.

The person also said the Premier League champions have not been co-operating with the investigation when they have been asked about information in leaked documents.

Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola, left, and captain Vincent Kompany hold the trophy as they celebrate with their supporters at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday May 12, 2019 the day they won the English Premier League title. Manchester City retained the Premier League trophy after coming from behind to beat Brighton 4-1 and see off Liverpool's relentless challenge on the final day of the season on Sunday. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

An independent club finance panel has been examining evidence published in the Football Leaks series. The AP reported in December that UEFA believed it had been misled by City over income.

In its statement , City said “the accusation of financial irregularities (is) entirely false, and comprehensive proof of this fact has been provided.” City also said the club’s “published accounts are full and complete and a matter of legal and regulatory record.”

City added it was “extremely concerning” that details about the process of the investigation has been leaked to a newspaper, saying that implies the club’s “good faith” in the independent panel is “misplaced” or that the “process is being misrepresented by individuals intent on damaging the club’s reputation and its commercial interests. Or both.”

Key to the investigation is whether City deceived UEFA for several years, including by disguising the source of revenue from sponsorship deals tied to the club’s owners in Abu Dhabi. UEFA rules limit cash injections from wealthy owners, and commercial deals such as shirt sponsorship that are suspected of being inflated are assessed for the fair market rate.

UEFA said it does not comment on ongoing Financial Fair Play investigations. The governing body’s next scheduled public statement will likely be to announce if the file on City has been transferred to the judges, or closed.

City won the Premier League title on Sunday for the fourth time in eight seasons. The team has never won the Champions League.

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