Court of Arbitration has upheld City’s appeal against the UEFA ban, but imposed a 10 million euro ($11.3 million) fine for failing to cooperate with investigators.
The verdict by three judges clears the team coached by Pep Guardiola to play in the group stage of the Champions League next season. The case does not affect City’s place in this season’s competition, which resumes next month.
City’s win guarantees tens of millions of dollars in UEFA prize money next season. It also protects against players leaving to seek Champions League action with another club.
Guardiola had pledged to stay in Manchester “no matter what happens” in the courts.
UEFA punished Man City in February for “serious breaches” of rules monitoring club finances and failing to cooperate with investigators.
The allegations included that City, owned by Abu Dhabi’s royal family, misled UEFA over several years to meet financial integrity rules – known as Financial Fair Play – required to enter European club competitions. City however denied wrongdoing, and said it had “irrefutable evidence” the claims were not true.
See Club’s Statement:
CLUB STATEMENT https://t.co/RlR33Vy2bI
— Manchester City (@ManCity) July 13, 2020
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