Manchester City set for Champions League ban

Investigators will push for Manchester City to be hit with a one-season ban from the UEFA Champions League.

Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola wants to revamp his squad but faces a transfer ban

The prospect of Manchester City being banned from the Champions League for alleged breaches of UEFA’s Financial Fair Play rules increased this week after it emerged that the investigators charged with examining the case will push for a suspension of one season.

UEFA’s independent club financial control body has been investigating allegations that a £59.5 million ($110.6m) sponsorship deal that was supposed to have come to the club in 2015 from Etihad Airways was instead paid directly by the club’s owners, the Abu Dhabi United Group.

Members of the financial control body, which is led by the former Belgium prime minister Yves Leterme, met in Nyon two weeks ago to finalise the conclusions that they will put forward to UEFA’s adjudicatory chamber, which will decide on the sanction in the coming weeks. A report in The New York Times this weeksaid that their recommendation would be a Champions League ban of at least one season.

Speaking in December, Leterme said: “If it is true what has been alleged, there might be a serious problem. This can lead to the heaviest punishment — exclusion from the UEFA competitions.”

It is unlikely that such a ban, if authorised by the adjudicatory chamber, would come into effect in time for next season as City would have the right of appeal and could also take their case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

If they are found guilty UEFA would have little time to finalise City’s punishment in time for next season’s competition as qualification for the Champions League starts next month, although the English Premier League champions do not enter the competition until the group stage begins in September.

City have strenuously denied any wrongdoing and vowed that they would mount an aggressive response to any effort to bar the club from the Champions League.

“The accusation of financial irregularities are entirely false,” City said in a statement this year.

“The club’s published accounts are full and complete and a matter of legal and regulatory record.”

The club have also pointed out that many of the allegations of financial impropriety and rule-breaking made against them came to light after they were reported by news media outlets with access to the so-called Football Leaks files, which are widely believed to have been obtained by hacking.

City have previously been found guilty of breaching UEFA’s Financial Fair Play rules, with their investigatory team arguing that a strong punishment is required on this occasion to prevent the regulations being rendered meaningless. In 2014, the club agreed to accept a fine of £49m related to a breach of the spending rules and to accept some restrictions on transfers.

The development came a day after City retained the title and as the club prepared to back Pep Guardiola in the transfer market this summer as he looks to revamp his squad.

Guardiola became the first manager in a decade to win successive EPL titles after City’s 4-1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion. City will complete an unprecedented domestic treble if they defeat Watford in the FA Cup on Saturday, but Guardiola still believes that his squad needs strengthening amid the threat of a transfer ban following a separate investigation.

Up to four players could be signed while Fabian Delph, Nicolas Otamendi and Eliaquim Mangala are set to leave. Guardiola wants to add more physicality and height to his team, which is why he wants to bring in Rodri, the 6’3” (190cm) midfielder from Atletico Madrid.

Rodri, 22, is seen as the perfect replacement for Fernandinho, who is 34 next month. The Spain player has a €70m ($113m) release clause in his contract, which means that he would become City’s record buy. Txiki Begiristain, the director of football, flew to Madrid to watch him play against City’s sister club Girona last month.

“There are weaknesses (in the squad),” Guardiola said. “I am the tallest. In the set pieces it is, ‘Go to the church to pray.’ In the box we defend with Bernardo Silva, Raheem Sterling, David Silva.”

Guardiola will sign another central midfielder if Ilkay Gundogan leaves. The 28-year-old’s deal expires in June next year. City’s policy is to avoid letting players enter the final year of their contract so Gundogan will be sold if he does not sign.

Among other central midfield targets is Houssem Aouar, the 20-year-old Lyons player. The Eintracht Frankfurt striker Luka Jovic is on City’s shortlist — and Guardiola wants a centre back.

Guardiola admires Matthijs de Ligt, the Ajax centre back. De Ligt, 19, has been tipped to join Barcelona in a £70m move but the two clubs are yet to announce a deal. It is understood that Barcelona have had difficulties with De Ligt’s agent, Mino Raiola.

Guardiola is aware that Otamendi is unhappy about his lack of first-team action. The centre back, 31, started 14 league games. Valencia, his former club, are interested while he could be included in a deal for Rodri. Vincent Kompany, the 33-year-old captain, has been offered a one-year contract while City are willing to sell Delph.

THE TIMES