The outcome of Manchester City\u2019s Champions League appeal on Monday was massive.<\/p>\n
Following June\u2019s three-day appeal hearing, had the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) been in agreement with UEFA and unanimously decided that City were guilty of \u201cserious breaches\u201d of football ruling body\u2019s Financial Fair Play regulations, the Premier League club\u2019s reputation would be left in tatters.<\/p>\n
Consequently, City would have been forced to observe the two-year ban from the Champions League, Europe\u2019s premier club competition, that they were initially slammed with back in February.<\/p>\n
Fortunately for last season\u2019s Premier League champions, who are now able to take a huge breath of relief, they were fined \u00a38.9 million instead of the original penalty of \u00a325 million as punishment for misleading UEFA and breaking Financial Fair Play rules.<\/p>\n
Ahead of CAS\u2019s appeal verdict, City boss Pep Guardiola had confidently expressed his belief that their ban would be overturned.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn Monday I\u2019m so confident \u2013 because I know and hear the arguments of the club \u2013 [that] next season we will be there and after I will give my opinion and the club will give a statement,\u201d he was quoted as saying by the Guardian.<\/p>\n
CAS subsequently confirmed on Monday that City’s appeal had been successful.<\/p>\n
In a statement on Monday morning, Man City issued an announcement\u00a0\u00a0announcing the following:<\/p>\n
“Whilst Manchester City and its legal advisors are yet to review the full ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the Club welcomes the implications of today\u2019s ruling as a validation of the Club\u2019s position and the body of evidence that it was able to present.<\/p>\n
“The Club wishes to thank the panel members for their diligence and the due process that they administered.<\/p>\n
The fine has also been reduced to \u20ac10 million.\u201d<\/p>\n
UEFA issued a separate statement,\u00a0saying:<\/p>\n
“UEFA takes note of the decision taken by the Court of Arbitration for Sport to reduce the sanction imposed on Manchester City FC by UEFA\u2019s independent Club Financial Control Body for alleged breaches of the UEFA Club Licensing and Financial Fair Play regulations.<\/p>\n
“UEFA notes that the CAS panel found that there was insufficient conclusive evidence to uphold all of the CFCB\u2019s conclusions in this specific case and that many of the alleged breaches were time-barred due to the 5 year time period foreseen in the UEFA regulations.<\/p>\n
“Over the last few years, Financial Fair Play has played a significant role in protecting clubs and helping them become financially sustainable and UEFA and ECA remain committed to its principles.<\/p>\n
“UEFA will be making no further comments on the matter.”<\/p>\n
So what implications does this latest ruling hold for City?<\/p>\n
For one, Guardiola was right to feel confident as this is the best outcome that City could have hoped for,without any doubts.<\/p>\n
Of immediate vital significance is the fact that Guardiola and his boys will now be able to compete in next season\u2019s Champions League and give it all the best with everything they can muster up.<\/p>\n
The imposition of a 2-year ban would have seen them at risk of losing their star players, including the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero – along with their world-class manager.<\/p>\n
The final verdict also means the status quo stays the same in terms of qualification for next season\u2019s Champions League, without any advantage favoring Manchester United or any of the other teams in hot pursuit.<\/p>\n
The team that finished fifth in the Premier League would have sealed a place in next season\u2019s Champions League had City\u2019s ban been upheld, but Monday\u2019s outcome means only the top four will qualify \u2013 fair and square!<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"