Manchester City's Champions League Ban Lifted by Court of Arbitration for Sport

Manchester City's two-year ban from the Champions League has been overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).


The Citizens were found guilty of breaching Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations back in February, after the Adjudicatory Chamber of UEFA's Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) stated that the club had broken the rules by 'overstating its sponsorship revenue in its accounts and in the break-even information submitted to UEFA between 2012 and 2016'.


The club were handed a €30m fine and two-year ban from European football as a result, despite strenuous denials and claims from City that they had been unfairly treated. That led the club to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in June for a three-day appeal, with this final ruling now coming some five months after the sanctions were first imposed.


Pep Guardiola committed himself to Manchester City, regardless of CAS' decision.

A short statement on City's website read: "Whilst Manchester City and its legal advisors are yet to review the full ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the Club welcomes the implications of today’s ruling as a validation of the Club’s position and the body of evidence that it was able to present.


"The Club wishes to thank the panel members for their diligence and the due process that they administered."


The complete overturning of City's ban is fantastic news for the club from a financial standpoint, as they will now be able to scoop up the television revenue and commercial benefits that playing in the Champions League affords clubs.


The Cityzens can also forget about the headaches that might have been caused by some of their top players, had the ban not been overturned. The likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva had previously committed themselves to the club - no matter the outcome of City's appeal - but ensuring Champions League football is readily available is a huge lift for everyone at the club.


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Source : 90min