Manchester City could be banned from the Champions League if they are found to have deceived Uefa over sponsorship income, European football’s governing body has confirmed.
City are being investigated by the Premier League and Uefa for possible breaches of football’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules after German magazine Der Spiegel published a series of stories last year based on leaked emails between club officials.
In an interview with Belgian magazine Sport and Strategy, Uefa’s chief FFP investigator Yves Leterme said: “If what has been written about Manchester City is true, there might be a serious problem.
“This can lead to the heaviest punishment – exclusion from Uefa competitions.”
Leterme, a former Belgian prime minister, explained that clubs must truthfully report their financial affairs to Uefa when they apply for a licence to compete in European club competitions.
Created with Sketch.
1/44 Diego Godin – Atletico Madrid
The experienced defender would be a great quick-fix
Getty Images
2/44 Gianluigi Buffon – PSG
At 40, the veteran goalkeeper can still do a job at a top club
Getty
3/44 Filipe Luis – Atletico Madrid
The 32-year-old would make a good addition to most side
Getty
4/44 Mario Balotelli – Nice
Several clubs could do with and without a touch of Balotelli
AFP/Getty Images
5/44 David Luiz – Chelsea
The Brazilian defender could see him future elsewhere
Getty
6/44 Juan Mata – Manchester United
The former Chelsea player will be a good addition to most teams
REUTERS
7/44 Mousa Dembele – Tottenham
The commanding midfielder is reportedly already considering his options
EPA
8/44 Petr Cech – Arsenal
The experienced goalkeeper has shown glimpses that he can continue to operate at the top
AFP/Getty Images
9/44 Vincent Kompany – Manchester City
The legendary City defender has a decision to make at the end of the sesaon
AP
10/44 Olivier Giroud – Chelsea
Not the greatest goal scorer at the moment but remains a quality player
AFP/Getty
11/44 Dani Alves – PSG
Is there one final move for one of the most successful players of a generation?
AFP/Getty Images
12/44 Antonio Valencia – Manchester United
The experienced defender is unlikely to remain first choice at United
Getty
13/44 Franck Ribery – Bayern Munich
The experienced winger could be set to leave Bayern in the summer
Getty
14/44 Nacho Monreal – Arsenal
The versatile defender has been getting better each season at Arsenal
Getty Images
15/44 Daniel Strurridge – Liverpool
The injury-prone forward might be worth a gamble from a Premier League side
Getty
16/44 Gary Cahill – Chelsea
The English defender is seeking more matches as he reaches the latter part of his career
AP
17/44 Juanfran – Atletico Madrid
The seasoned defender still competes against the best in the game
Getty
18/44 Pablo Zabaleta – West Ham
When he’s not in Sky studios he can be found occasionally holding his own in the Premier League
REUTERS
19/44 Arjen Robben – Bayern Munich
Does the Dutch winger have one final move in him?
Getty
20/44 Santi Cazorla – Villarreal
The popular midfielder is making his return following a horrific injury
Getty
21/44 Aaron Ramsey – Arsenal
The Welshman and his agent has made it clear he is ready to find a new club
PA
22/44 Andrea Barzagli – Juventus
There are few trophies the experienced defender has not won
Getty Images
23/44 Adrien Rabiot – PSG
The young midfielder has caught the attention of many clubs in Europe
Getty
24/44 Fernando Torres – Sagan Tosu
The Spaniard’s time in Japan comes to an end in December 2019
Getty
25/44 Phil Jones – Manchester United
Patience with Jones may finally run out when his deal expires
Getty Images
26/44 Cesc Fabregas – Chelsea
Fabregas’ time at Chelsea is almost certainly up
Getty
27/44 Ashley Young – Manchester United
The defender has enjoyed a revival that has seen him return to the England squad
Getty
28/44 Ander Herrera – Manchester United
Is there room in the United midfield to keep Herrera?
PA
29/44 Andreas Pereira – Manchester United
Jose Mourinho was very complimentary towards him in pre-season
Getty
30/44 Leighton Baines – Everton
Baines is beginning to be replaced in the Everton side
31/44 Michel Vorm – Tottenham
The Spurs reserve goalkeeper will bring experience to any side
Getty Images
32/44 Danny Welbeck – Arsenal
The England forward suffered a nasty injury that could keep him out for a while
Arsenal FC via Getty
33/44 Ravel Morrison – Lazio
The 25-year-old is yet to settle at a club for a long period
Getty
34/44 Mohamed Diame – Newcastle
Consistent form has been hard to come by for the powerful midfielder
Getty Images
35/44 Wes Morgan – Leicester
He captained his side to Premier League glory, which has to be worth something
Getty Images
36/44 Jakub Blaszczykowski – Wolfsburg
Once a star at Borussia Dortmund, the Polish winger’s career has slightly declined
Getty
37/44 Fernando Llorente – Tottenham
Athletic Club could offer him an early exit from Tottenham
Getty
38/44 Willy Caballero – Chelsea
The experienced goalkeeper endured a tricky World Cup but remains a solid back-up
Getty
39/44 Stephan Lichtsteiner – Arsenal
The Gunners will have to decide whether they have seen enough to keep him
PA
40/44 Ezequiel Lavezzi – Hebei China Made
The Argentine could return to Europe
AFP/Getty Images
41/44 Yacine Brahimi – Porto
Newcastle, West Ham and Everton are said to be interested in the tricky winger
Getty
42/44 Alex Teixeira – Jiangsu
Liverpool were once interested in the Brazilian forward and now rivals Everton could be keen
Getty
43/44 James Milner – Liverpool
The fine-wine of a midfielder will be a popular player for plenty of top-flight sides
Action Images via Reuters
44/44 David Ospina – Napoli
The Colombia and former Arsenal goalkeeper could be a good option
REUTERS
1/44 Diego Godin – Atletico Madrid
The experienced defender would be a great quick-fix
Getty Images
2/44 Gianluigi Buffon – PSG
At 40, the veteran goalkeeper can still do a job at a top club
Getty
3/44 Filipe Luis – Atletico Madrid
The 32-year-old would make a good addition to most side
Getty
4/44 Mario Balotelli – Nice
Several clubs could do with and without a touch of Balotelli
AFP/Getty Images
5/44 David Luiz – Chelsea
The Brazilian defender could see him future elsewhere
Getty
6/44 Juan Mata – Manchester United
The former Chelsea player will be a good addition to most teams
REUTERS
7/44 Mousa Dembele – Tottenham
The commanding midfielder is reportedly already considering his options
EPA
8/44 Petr Cech – Arsenal
The experienced goalkeeper has shown glimpses that he can continue to operate at the top
AFP/Getty Images
9/44 Vincent Kompany – Manchester City
The legendary City defender has a decision to make at the end of the sesaon
AP
10/44 Olivier Giroud – Chelsea
Not the greatest goal scorer at the moment but remains a quality player
AFP/Getty
11/44 Dani Alves – PSG
Is there one final move for one of the most successful players of a generation?
AFP/Getty Images
12/44 Antonio Valencia – Manchester United
The experienced defender is unlikely to remain first choice at United
Getty
13/44 Franck Ribery – Bayern Munich
The experienced winger could be set to leave Bayern in the summer
Getty
14/44 Nacho Monreal – Arsenal
The versatile defender has been getting better each season at Arsenal
Getty Images
15/44 Daniel Strurridge – Liverpool
The injury-prone forward might be worth a gamble from a Premier League side
Getty
16/44 Gary Cahill – Chelsea
The English defender is seeking more matches as he reaches the latter part of his career
AP
17/44 Juanfran – Atletico Madrid
The seasoned defender still competes against the best in the game
Getty
18/44 Pablo Zabaleta – West Ham
When he’s not in Sky studios he can be found occasionally holding his own in the Premier League
REUTERS
19/44 Arjen Robben – Bayern Munich
Does the Dutch winger have one final move in him?
Getty
20/44 Santi Cazorla – Villarreal
The popular midfielder is making his return following a horrific injury
Getty
21/44 Aaron Ramsey – Arsenal
The Welshman and his agent has made it clear he is ready to find a new club
PA
22/44 Andrea Barzagli – Juventus
There are few trophies the experienced defender has not won
Getty Images
23/44 Adrien Rabiot – PSG
The young midfielder has caught the attention of many clubs in Europe
Getty
24/44 Fernando Torres – Sagan Tosu
The Spaniard’s time in Japan comes to an end in December 2019
Getty
25/44 Phil Jones – Manchester United
Patience with Jones may finally run out when his deal expires
Getty Images
26/44 Cesc Fabregas – Chelsea
Fabregas’ time at Chelsea is almost certainly up
Getty
27/44 Ashley Young – Manchester United
The defender has enjoyed a revival that has seen him return to the England squad
Getty
28/44 Ander Herrera – Manchester United
Is there room in the United midfield to keep Herrera?
PA
29/44 Andreas Pereira – Manchester United
Jose Mourinho was very complimentary towards him in pre-season
Getty
30/44 Leighton Baines – Everton
Baines is beginning to be replaced in the Everton side
31/44 Michel Vorm – Tottenham
The Spurs reserve goalkeeper will bring experience to any side
Getty Images
32/44 Danny Welbeck – Arsenal
The England forward suffered a nasty injury that could keep him out for a while
Arsenal FC via Getty
33/44 Ravel Morrison – Lazio
The 25-year-old is yet to settle at a club for a long period
Getty
34/44 Mohamed Diame – Newcastle
Consistent form has been hard to come by for the powerful midfielder
Getty Images
35/44 Wes Morgan – Leicester
He captained his side to Premier League glory, which has to be worth something
Getty Images
36/44 Jakub Blaszczykowski – Wolfsburg
Once a star at Borussia Dortmund, the Polish winger’s career has slightly declined
Getty
37/44 Fernando Llorente – Tottenham
Athletic Club could offer him an early exit from Tottenham
Getty
38/44 Willy Caballero – Chelsea
The experienced goalkeeper endured a tricky World Cup but remains a solid back-up
Getty
39/44 Stephan Lichtsteiner – Arsenal
The Gunners will have to decide whether they have seen enough to keep him
PA
40/44 Ezequiel Lavezzi – Hebei China Made
The Argentine could return to Europe
AFP/Getty Images
41/44 Yacine Brahimi – Porto
Newcastle, West Ham and Everton are said to be interested in the tricky winger
Getty
42/44 Alex Teixeira – Jiangsu
Liverpool were once interested in the Brazilian forward and now rivals Everton could be keen
Getty
43/44 James Milner – Liverpool
The fine-wine of a midfielder will be a popular player for plenty of top-flight sides
Action Images via Reuters
44/44 David Ospina – Napoli
The Colombia and former Arsenal goalkeeper could be a good option
REUTERS
The governing body’s Club Financial Control Board then randomly checks those figures and club accounts are examined by internal and external experts.
“If the (Der Spiegel) information is correct, this goes against the truthful reporting of financial affairs,” added Leterme.
According to the German magazine, only £8m of City’s claimed £67.5m sponsorship deal with Etihad actually came from the airline in 2015, with the rest coming direct from their owner Sheikh Mansour via his Abu Dhabi United Group.
A member of Abu Dhabi’s royal family, Sheikh Mansour is deputy prime minister of the United Arab Emirates and his half-brother Sheikh Khalifa is the UAE’s president and emir of Abu Dhabi.
German magazine Der Spiegel accused City of inflating sponsorship deals (Getty)
The magazine also alleged that City backdated and inflated several other deals from their predominantly UAE-based sponsors to meet FFP requirements, hid payments to former manager Roberto Mancini and artificially reduced their image-rights costs.
The Premier League champions, who closed the gap to this season’s leaders Liverpool with a thrilling 2-1 win over the Merseyside club on Thursday, have described the leaks as an attempt to smear their reputation but have not challenged the authenticity of the emails.
The Premier League is understood to be investigating the matter, too, and is cooperating with Uefa’s investigators, who are also looking into similar allegations related to French clubs Monaco and Paris St Germain.
CIty and PSG were both given £49m fines by UEFA for breaching FFP rules in 2014, as well as having restrictions imposed on the size of their Champions League squads and transfer spends for two seasons – but two thirds of the sums were later returned to the clubs for apparently complying with the terms of the conditional punishment.
A second offence, however, would be viewed much more seriously, making a sporting sanction, a ban, more likely.
PA
Be the first to comment