Manchester City are set to be hit with UEFA sanctions imminently after the governing body confirmed the investigation into potential financial fair play breaches has concluded.
The club, which is thought to be facing a one-year ban from the Champions League, will learn it’s fate from the Club Financial Control Body’s adjudicatory chamber, which is now reviewing the investigation’s findings.
UEFA opened an investigation into City over potential breaches of its break-even rule in March after German publication Der Spiegel reported the club’s Abu Dhabi owners inflated sponsorship agreements to comply with FFP requirements.
“The Club Financial Control Body chief investigator (Yves Leterme)… has decided to refer Manchester City FC to the CFCB adjudicatory chamber following the conclusion of his investigation,” UEFA said in a statement.
The premier League champions released a statement, claiming that they were disappointed, but regrettably not surprised, by the sudden announcement of the referral.
FFP rules are intended to prevent clubs receiving unlimited amounts of money through inflated sponsorship deals with organisations related to the owners and clubs who have breached the rules can be barred from European competition.
“Manchester City is entirely confident of a positive outcome when the matter is considered by an independent judicial body,” City added.
The club are certain to appeal any UEFA ban at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland, which would take until at least the autumn to reach any conclusion. A source close to the investigation confirmed all Uefa sanctions would be frozen while any appeal took place.
Source: The Telegraph, Evening Standard