Manchester City Football Club has announced that it will appeal against a UEFA ban which has prevented the club from playing in European competition for two years.
The ban was handed down after City was investigated for breaching financial rules during the 2014-15 season. The club has already incurred large fines as a result of the investigation, and an appeal could result in those fines being reduced or eliminated altogether.
UEFA’s ruling means that Manchester City will not be able to participate in the Champions League, Europa League, or English Premier League during the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons. The club is also barred from signing new players during that time period.
What is the appeal?
On May 18, Manchester City was issued a one-year European ban after failing an anti-doping test. The club has appealed the ban, and their appeal will be heard in June.
The appeal is based on the argument that City did not intentionally dope themselves and that the substance they were tested for was not intended to enhance performance. The substance found in their system was Meldonium, which is not currently banned by European Union nations.
If the appeal is successful, then City would be allowed to compete in European competition until at least October 2018. If it is unsuccessful, then City would be banned from all European competition for the next year.
This appeal is an important step for Manchester City as they look to maintain their spot in Europe’s top leagues. If they are unsuccessful in their appeal, they may have to face relegation from one of Europe’s top leagues.
How long will it take to hear the appeal?
The appeal against Manchester City’s -year European ban will be heard in June.
This announcement was made by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Thursday. The hearing will take place in Geneva, Switzerland and is expected to last around three days.
The decision to ban City from European competition was made by UEFA after the club was found guilty of breaching financial fair play rules. The punishment comes as a result of City’s £49 million ($65 million) purchase of Benjamin Mendy from Monaco in the summer of 2017.
UEFA argued that the money spent on Mendy prevented City from meeting their financial obligations and therefore constituted a breach of fair play. However, CAS has since ruled that this was not enough to merit a ban from European competition.
City are hopeful that they can overturn the decision and return to Europe next season. If they are unsuccessful, they may have to compete in domestic competitions instead.
What could happen if Manchester City are banned from Europe?
If Manchester City are found guilty of wrongdoing by UEFA, they could face a -year ban from European competition. This would be a major blow to the club, as they would miss out on key Champions League and Europa League matches.
UEFA’s disciplinary committee will announce their findings in June, and City will have the opportunity to appeal. If they lose the appeal, City could face a lengthy suspension from European football. However, this is unlikely as UEFA seems to have strong evidence against City.
City have been investigated for violations of financial fair play rules dating back to 2011. These rules prohibit clubs from making large financial debts and from spending excessively on players. City have been fined €100 million (£77 million) and had their squad reduced by 25 players as a result of these investigations.
The case against City is strong, and it is unlikely that they will avoid punishment. If they are banned from European football, it would be a major blow for the club as they would miss out on key matches.
What precedent has been set with previous European bans?
1.
Manchester City’s appeal against a -year European ban will be heard in June. This follows previous appeals by other clubs who have been fined by UEFA for breaking rules regarding financial fair play.
2. What has Manchester City done to violate UEFA’s rules?
UEFA has accused Manchester City of spending too much money on player transfers and stadium expenditure, which has led to the club being banned from participating in European competitions for one year. These violations include making an illegal payment to Qatari businessman Sheikh Mansour and exceeding the maximum allowed amount of debt for a club owned by a private individual.
3. Has Manchester City ever been penalized for breaking football rules before?
Yes, Manchester City has been penalized for violating football rules before. In 2006, the club was fined £38 million (then $54 million) and banned from competing in the Champions League for three seasons after being found guilty of tapping up teenager Gabriel Heinze.
Conclusion
Manchester City’s appeal against a two-year European ban will be heard in June. The club has been charged with failing to control their players during the 2014/15 season and were handed a €60 million (£51.7 million) fine as well as a two-year ban from Europe, which kicked in this past season. Several top players, including Sergio Aguero, Lionel Messi and Neymar, have all been linked with involvement in match-fixing scandals over recent years. However, City maintain that they did not know of any wrongdoing by their players and are confident that the ban will be overturned.