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Senior figures within English football believe that Manchester City could sneak their way into the Champions League next season despite any punishments that are handed down to them.
The Cityzens have been found guilty of 114 charges for financial breaches between 2009 and 2018, with the club's owners having manipulated the books by more than £900m during that period to get around limits in the Premier League and UEFA competitions.
City are appealing the verdicts, and continue to maintain their innocence, which means no sanctions have been handed down at this stage. But there is a feeling that they could face significant penalties, including points deductions, and potentially relegation, or even being kicked out of football entirely.
But it has now emerged that there are some senior people within the game who feel that City could still find themselves playing Champions League football next season, despite any potential punishments handed down by the Premier League.
According to BBC Sport, City could still qualify for the tournament next season by winning the Champions League this season, as there is no automatic mechanism that would see them removed from the competition if they qualify for it via sporting merit.
City Could Play Champions League Next Season Even if Relegated
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Many senior figures within football feel that if City are handed a major punishment, them being able to play among the elite clubs in Europe would not be acceptable, as it would also mean that they would continue to reap the lucrative rewards that come with that.
It's reported that the immediate issue surrounds the UEFA license that is needed for every club to compete in Europe. One source said the issue of City's licence "had been raised" and that a solution "would require the sort of joined-up thinking that's been a bit lacking so far".
The licenses are handed out by the FA, which is delegated to the Premier League, but if a club fulfills all the minimum criteria required, then a license cannot be refused. It's understood that licenses are awarded on the basis of current financial performance, which makes it unclear if City could be refused.
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Fees correct prior to summer 2026
UEFA Could Open Investigation After Sanctions
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While the Premier League have been fighting with Man City over these charges for years, UEFA have made it clear that they are waiting to see what happens with this investigation before opening their own disciplinary process.
There is no guarantee that the final decision will come before the end of the season, despite the Premier League creating framework for decisions to be undertaken within a certain timeframe.
City could also qualify for European football outside of the Champions League if they were to win the FA Cup or EFL Cup, and it's possible that UEFA could open a disciplinary process that could see them kicked out of the competitions. However, because City's breaches are historical, there is no guarantee that they would be able to do so.
UEFA tried to charge Man City back in 2020 for breaches between 2012 and 2016, but City successfully won an appeal as UEFA's rules meant the charges were time-barred.
If City are not successful in their appeal and win the Champions League, the CFCB will have to find a disciplinary measure to remove the club from next season's competition.