ZURICH (AFP) - Uefa on Thursday (March 7) announced they were opening an investigation into whether or not Manchester City broke Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules, a breach that could lead to a devastating Champions League ban.
However, English champions City insisted the accusations against them are false and that they welcomed the opportunity to clear their name.
German magazine Der Spiegel, using material purportedly obtained from the whistleblowing outlet Football Leaks, alleged in November that City had set up sponsorship deals to circumvent regulations limiting how much money owners can put into a club.
"The Investigatory Chamber of the independent Uefa Club Financial Control Body has today opened a formal investigation into Manchester City FC for potential breaches of Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations," said a Uefa statement on Thursday.
"The investigation will focus on several alleged violations of FFP that were recently made public in various media outlets."
City responded immediately by saying they supported the investigation and that they had nothing to hide.
"Manchester City welcomes the opening of a formal Uefa investigation as an opportunity to bring to an end the speculation resulting from the illegal hacking and out of context publication of City emails," the club said in a statement.
"The accusation of financial irregularities are entirely false. The club's published accounts are full and complete and a matter of legal and regulatory record."
Â
Â
Â
Â
City had earlier responded to Der Spiegel's claims by saying there had been an "organised and clear" attempt to damage the club's reputation.
A ban from Uefa competitions, including the Champions League, is a potential punishment if City are found guilty of FFP breaches.
City were fined €60 million (S$90 million) and subjected to squad, wage and spending caps in a 2014 settlement agreed with Uefa following a previous breach of the rules.
City coach Pep Guardiola has always insisted that City would accept a ban but does not believe it is likely after discussions with the club's UAE owners.
QUESTIONS FOR PSG, MILAN
"We will not be banned, no. That's what I think because I trust in my chairman, with my CEO, what they have explained to me," he said.
"If it happens, because Uefa decide that, we will accept it and move forward."
City are not the only European heavyweight to be caught up in claims of breaking financial fair play rules.
French champions Paris Saint-Germain quashed reports they could be forced to sell either Kylian Mbappe or Neymar in a bid to circumvent eventual FFP sanctions.
Qatar-owned PSG, who splashed a combined total of more than €400 million in 2017 for Brazil star Neymar and France World Cup winner Mbappe, blasted allegations as "totally false and ridiculous".
Former European champions AC Milan were warned in December that they risk being excluded from European competition if they fail to "break even".
Milan had already been banned for a year from the Europa League due to breaching FFP regulations before winning an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) last year.
But Uefa said the former seven-time European champions again face suspension from continental competition in future seasons "should the club not be break-even compliant at 30 June 2021".
Football: Albirex Niigata still aim to win trophies despite squad overhaul - The Straits Times SINGAPORE - Keiji Shigetomi knows the magnitude of his task in his first senior appointment as head coach of reigning Singapore Premier League (SPL)
Football: National Under-22 team train in Japan ahead of AFC
usasportsradar.com/soccer/football-national-under-22-team-train-in-japan-ahead-of-afc-under-23-cship-qualifiers/
Football: Four Albirex Niigata players to watch in the 2019 Singapore Premier League ; Football: Albirex Niigata still aim to win trophies despite squad overhaul ; Football: Lions can 'play to strengths' Footballer Ben Davis fails to report for NS
Albirex Niigata's Yoshinaga dismisses title talks, focused on
Italian World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro was named coach of China on Friday, spearheading the ambitious country's attempts to become a footballing force at last. It was not immediately
Italian legend Cannavaro named new coach of China - World
worldsoccertalk.com/2019/03/15/italian-legend-cannavaro-named-new-coach-of-china/
Italian legend Cannavaro named new coach of China AFP March 15, 2019 AFP No Comments Shanghai (AFP) - Italian World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro was named coach of China on Friday, spearheading the ambitious country's attempts to become a footballing force at last.
Football » News » Legend Cannavaro named new coach of China
Malta were happy to sit back on the edge of their area and defend for most of the game, but the visitors found a way through in the 31st minute when Morata latched onto a long ball and sent his
Alvaro Morata double helps much-changed Spain ease past Malta
N'Golo Kante earned Chelsea a 1-0 win at Crystal Palace to boost the Blues' bid for a place in the Premier League's top four. Kante, a World Cup winner with France last summer, has been deployed in a more advanced position on the right side of midfield by Maurizio Sarri at Chelsea. He netted
Crystal Palace 0-1 Chelsea: Lone N'Golo Kante strike secures
Feb 09, 2019 · He cited an example from just a couple of years ago. Davy Klaassen was Ajax's captain then. He was 24. The club had high hopes for a young midfielder, Donny van der Beek, but he needed a place
How two Ajax old boys brought famous Dutch club back to the
Players acknowledge fans and celebrate after Juventus secured its 8th consecutive Italian Serie A title in Turin on Saturday. Football Juventus win eighth Serie A title in a row.
Juventus win eighth successive Serie A title | Sports News
Crystal Palace moved further away from the Premier League relegation zone with a 3-1 win at fellow strugglers Burnley on Saturday thanks to second half goals from Michy Batshuayi and Wilfried Zaha. Palace took the lead in the 15th minute when Jeffrey Schlupp's pull-back struck Burnley defender Phil
Palace climb away from troube with 3-1 win at Burnley
Liverpool vs. Barcelona score: Reds pull off monumental Champions League comeback, advance to final and both remaining matches can be watched on We've got you covered for the Women's World
News - FC Barcelona Official website
> Chelsea hold on against Brighton to consolidate top four spot. Chelsea hold on against Brighton to consolidate top four spot. Published: match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Chelsea, at
Football: Watford's Gray strikes to sink Everton, pile pressure on Silva WATFORD, England (REUTERS) - Substitute Andre Gray scored a second-half winner as Watford beat Marco Silva's Everton 1-0 in the Premier League on Saturday (Feb 9) to heap the pressure on their former manager.
Watford's Gray strikes to sink Everton, pile pressure on Silva
Wayne Rooney's first three goals of the season led DC United to a dominant 5-0 win over visiting Real Salt Lake on Saturday. It was Rooney's first hat-trick in Major League Soccer since joining DC
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen