This archive report was first published on 13 July 2020.
Manchester City's European Ban Overturned ¶
On July 13, 2020, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) overturned Manchester City's two-year ban from European football, allowing the club to play in the Champions League next season.
The ban was imposed by UEFA's club financial control body (CFCB) in February for 'serious breaches' of club licensing and financial fair play regulations. Manchester City had been accused of overstating sponsorship revenue in their accounts and in the break-even information submitted to UEFA between 2012 and 2016, and for failing to co-operate with the investigation.
However, the CAS panel found that 'most of the alleged breaches reported were either not established or time-barred' and reduced the club's initial €30m fine to €10m (£8.96m).
Manchester City welcomed the decision, stating that it was a 'validation of the club's position and the body of evidence that it was able to present.'
UEFA has stated that it remains committed to the principles of Financial Fair Play, despite the decision. However, sports lawyer Daniel Geey has suggested that UEFA could potentially appeal the CAS ruling at the Swiss Federal Tribunal, although this is unlikely.
