Manchester City’s financial case could potentially have consequences beyond English football, with UEFA now monitoring developments surrounding the Premier League’s disciplinary process.
According to Sky Sports News’ Kaveh Solhekol, UEFA will wait until the Premier League process has concluded before deciding whether it could take any further action against Manchester City. (Sky Sports)
The development comes after an independent commission found Manchester City guilty of serious breaches of Premier League financial regulations covering the period between 2009 and 2018.
Five of the charges upheld by the commission related specifically to failures to comply with UEFA’s Financial Fair Play regulations.
However, UEFA’s position is complicated by the fact that its previous investigation into Manchester City was conducted with a different set of evidence.
The Premier League investigation had access to documents and other material that were not available to UEFA when it was building its own case against City. That difference could become important if UEFA considers whether there is a basis for further action. (Sky Sports)
Manchester City have strongly rejected the commission’s findings and have lodged an appeal. The club maintains that it has evidence that will support its position and clear its name. (Sky Sports)
There is also significant history between Manchester City and UEFA.
In 2020, UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body found City guilty of serious breaches involving the overstating of sponsorship revenue and failures to cooperate with the investigation. The club was initially given a two-season exclusion from UEFA competitions and a €30 million fine. (UEFA.com)
Manchester City appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which overturned the two-year European competition ban. CAS also reduced the fine to €10 million, stating that many of the alleged breaches were either not established or were time-barred. (UEFA.com)
That history makes UEFA’s latest monitoring particularly significant.
However, it is important to understand that UEFA has not announced any new punishment against Manchester City. The current position, according to Sky Sports News, is that UEFA is watching the Premier League process and will consider its options once that process has been completed. (Sky Sports)
Manchester City’s appeal is therefore crucial.
The club is challenging the independent commission’s findings, while the Premier League disciplinary process continues. UEFA will then have to assess the available evidence and determine whether the Premier League findings create grounds for any action under UEFA’s own regulations.
For Manchester City, the situation could therefore extend beyond the domestic case.
What happens next will depend heavily on the outcome of City’s appeal and the eventual conclusion of the Premier League disciplinary process.
For now, UEFA is waiting.
But the fact that European football’s governing body is closely monitoring the case adds another layer to an already major financial dispute surrounding Manchester City.
| Pos | Team | Pl | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manchester City | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | +8 | 15 |
| 2 | Arsenal | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | +4 | 12 |
| 3 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | +11 | 10 |
| 4 | Brentford | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | +6 | 9 |
| 5 | Leeds United | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | +4 | 9 |
| 6 | Liverpool | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 9 |
| 7 | Everton | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 9 |
| 8 | Hull City | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | +2 | 8 |
| 9 | Newcastle United | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
| 10 | Chelsea | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | -2 | 7 |
| 11 | Ipswich Town | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | -4 | 6 |
| 12 | Manchester United | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| 13 | Nottingham Forest | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -1 | 5 |
| 14 | Sunderland | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -4 | 4 |
| 15 | Crystal Palace | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -5 | 4 |
| 16 | Aston Villa | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -5 | 4 |
| 17 | Bournemouth | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 | -2 | 3 |
| 18 | Coventry City | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | -9 | 3 |
| 19 | Fulham | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | -3 | 2 |
| 20 | Tottenham Hotspur | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | -6 | 2 |
