Manchester City ‘face potential Champions League ban’ over alleged Financial Fair Play breaches

Manchester City ‘face potential Champions League ban’ over alleged Financial Fair Play breaches
Investigators into Manchester City’s alleged breaches of Financial Fair Play regulations are pushing for a one-year suspension from the Champions League, according to reports.Allegations that City, who were crowned Premier League champions on Sunday, broke financial rules in 2015 came to light last year due to documents published by Football Leaks.GETTY1

The latest development comes days after Man City secured back-to-back Premier League titles

The articles included emails from club executives which suggested a sponsorship deal worth almost 60million was paid by the club’s owners, the Abu Dhabi United Group, rather than Etihad Airways.City have previously broken FFP regulations and were fined by UEFA for doing so, and it has long been reported a second breach could lead to harsher sanctions.According to the New York Times, the sanction could be a ban from the Champions League. UEFAs independent club financial control body, who are investigating the allegations of wrongdoing, are to put forward their findings to the governing body’s adjudicatory chamber over the coming weeks. The report claims they are recommending a suspension from Europe’s elite football competition for at least one season.Should a ban be confirmed as Manchester City’s punishment, the club would be allowed to appeal and could also take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. There is little chance any ban would come into effect for next season.City insist they are cooperating with the investigation and said in a statement the New York Times report is ‘concerning’.“Manchester City FC is fully co-operating in good faith with the CFCB IC’s (club financial control body investigatory chamber) ongoing investigation,” the statement read.“In doing so the club is reliant on both the CFCB IC’s independence and commitment to due process; and on UEFA’s commitment of March 7 that it ‘…will make no further comment on the matter while the investigation is ongoing’.

LIVE ON talkSPORT

talkSPORT is your home of live football! Here's what's coming up on talkSPORT and talkSPORT 2...

• West Brom vs Aston Villa (Tuesday, 8pm) talkSPORT
• Leeds vs Derby (Wednesday, 7:45pm) talkSPORT
• Portsmouth vs Sunderland (Thursday, 7:45pm) talkSPORT 2
• Charlton vs Doncaster (Friday, 7:45pm) talkSPORT 2
• Manchester City vs Watford (Saturday, 5pm) talkSPORT

“The New York Times report citing ‘people familiar with the case’ is therefore extremely concerning.“The implications are that either Manchester City’s good faith in the CFCB IC is misplaced or the CFCB IC process is being misrepresented by individuals intent on damaging the club’s reputation and its commercial interests. Or both.”As well as the ongoing investigation by UEFA, City are also being looked into by the Premier League, the FA and FIFA.The Premier League are investigating potential breaches of the regulations concerning signing academy players and third-party ownership, the FA are looking into a payment allegedly made to Jadon Sancho’s agent when he signed from Watford in 2015, while FIFA’s inquiry centres on the signing of eight players from outside Britain who joined City before their 18th birthdays.

---

Maurizio Sarri has reached an agreement with Juventus to become the Serie A champions' next head coach and has requested Chelsea release him from his contract to join the Bianconeri, Goal understands.
Sarri to Juventus 'done' as manager reportedly reaches

---

Jose Mourinho takes thinly-veiled swipe at Jurgen Klopp and Mauricio Pochettino he was jabbing at Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp and Tottenham to join in act The head judge was not impressed
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp on comparison with Chelsea's Jose

---

Chelsea team news v Man City: Callum Hudson-Odoi to start Carabao Cup final? with a goal against Malmo. Callum Hudson-Odoi is another player who did his chances of starting the final no harm
Callum Hudson-Odoi: Did Chelsea starlet shine against Tottenham?

---

The Tottenham left-back opened up about his struggles with depression in the build up to the 2018 World Cup, an illness which was triggered by a significant knee injury and the death of a close family member. Danny Rose has said a club had to check he wasn't 'crazy' after he opened up about his depression
As it happened: Premier League transfer deadline day · The42

---

Salomon Rondon was left in tears after discussing his role in James McCarthy's horror injury in a TV interview.The Newcastle loanee was playing for West Brom, his parent club, when he caught
Salomon Rondon shows his emotional side as Newcastle forward

---

Ander Herrera leaning towards leaving Manchester United for Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer at end of the season after contract talks stall Ander Herrera is looking increasingly likely to
Ander Herrera to David de Gea and Marcus Rashford: 15 Man

---

Manchester City's Spanish coach Josep Guardiola (C) congratulates Manchester City's Brazilian forward Gabriel Jesus (L) and Manchester City's Argentine forward Sergio Aguero after winning the FA Cup quarter-final football match between Swansea City and Manchester City at The Liberty Stadium in Swansea, south Wales on March 16, 2019. photo: AFP
LIVE Bernardo Silva Manchester News | One News Page

---

Alfredo Morelos red cards: Every sending off for Rangers this

---

tide shifting talkSPORT.com takes a look at where every team could potentially end up after this weekend's fixtures The 2018/19 Premier League season is shaping up to be one of the most exciting in recent years, with absolutely nothing decided as we enter gameweek 25.
~ France 19-24 Wales: Warren Gatland's men overturn 16-point

---

Tottenham Hotspur stadium update: Spurs fan releases video of new ground from inside the West Stand and hospitality areas through to the knockouts of the Champions League against all odds and
New Tottenham stadium: When Spurs' massive new ground could

---

Chelsea transfer news: Blues reportedly set to confirm signing of Gonzalo Higuain from Milan Posted on March 1, 2019 Gonzalo Higuain is close to becoming a Chelsea player and could make the move today after agreeing personal terms.
Chelsea news live: AC Milan players confirm Gonzalo Higuain's

---

Arsenal transfer news: Gunners have 'concrete' interest in £6.9million wonderkid Gabriel Martinelli The 17-year-old striker has been watched by Arsenal scouts in his homeland of Brazil By
Arsenal transfer news: Who is Gabriel Martinelli? The £6m

---

Newcastle United can stake a claim to being one of the most consistent teams in the Premier League. Rafael Benitez's side are so consistent they have exactly the same record as they did at the
~ Newcastle United news: Rafael Benitez's side have exactly

---