There are concerns among senior officials in English football that Manchester City could still play in the UEFA Champions League next season even if they are relegated from the Premier League, according to reports.
Erling Haaland was pulled out of Norway press conference duties in the wake of Manchester City's guilty verdictMore Videos
Manchester City were found guilty by an independent commission of 114 charges of breaching the Premier League's financial rules between 2009 and 2018.
The commission said in its verdict that the club arranged ‘sham’ contracts wth a number of its commercial partners and filed mis-stated accounts while significantly breaching the Premier League’s and UEFA’s spending limits.
It was found that City used schemes to inflate the club’s revenue and reduce its costs by more than £900 million from 2009 - one year after the takeover of the Abu Dhabi United Group - to 2018.
City have since appealed the decision and a new, three-person commission has 12 weeks to conduct a five-day hearing, with the conclusion for the appeal falling on Christmas Eve.
From that point, the commission will have 30 days to find a plausible and fair verdict, which will then shift to the focus of any possible punishment if City’s contestation fails.
UEFA are keeping a close watch on Manchester City's ongoing Premier League disciplinary proceedings and will not move to take any action of their own until the full process has been concluded, as per a new report.cityxtra.co.ukUEFA are keeping a close watch on Manchester City's ongoing Premier League disciplinary proceedings and will not move to take any action of their own until the full process has been concluded, as per a new report.
UEFA Monitor Man City Situation and Await Appeal Conclusion in New Punishment Threat
Man City could play UEFA Champions League football even if they are relegated, senior officials fear
If their appeal does falter, there is still the possibility that City will win the UEFA Champions League, which would provide qualification for the following season’s campaign as titleholders, regardless of their status in domestic competition.
According to BBC Sport, there is no automatic mechanism to remove City from a European competition they qualify for on sporting merit. Any attempt to do so could be met with more court battles.
The immediate issue of City’s future in European football surrounds the UEFA licence, which all clubs competing in the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League must have.
The licences are issued by the FA, though the process itself is delegated to the Premier League; these are based on current information, which doesn’t take into account the sanctions or breaches that City have taken part in.
If a club fulfils the minimum criteria for a licence - which Manchester City are expected to meet despite admittedly unclear circumstances - it cannot be refused, unless UEFA choose to open a disciplinary case.
What could happen if the verdict is upheld by the new commission?
There are several sanctions that Manchester City could be handed if they are found to have breached all serious financial rules following their appeal.
The most probable outcome is a large fine, a lengthy transfer embargo and vast points deductions across multiple seasons, which could provide deep enough points deficits to relegate the club more than once.
Suggestions of the potential for titles to be stripped from the club were loud and clear upon the arrival of the first verdict, but that is highly unlikely for the integrity of the sport and if City win some of the charges back after their appeal.
While they could still qualify for European competition through winning the UEFA Champions League this season, UEFA may choose to open a disciplinary case of its own to establish how it can kick City out of the competition.