UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin believes European football’s governing body was ‘right’ to expel Manchester City from European competition for breaching its Financial Fairplay regulations (FFP).
City were handed a two-year ban from European competition and fined £25million in February 2020 after they were found guilty of breaking FFP rules and of misleading UEFA.
The ban was overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport seven months later, but City now face potential action from the Premier League.
Last season’s Treble winner were charged by the League with an extraordinary 115 alleged breaches of financial regulations in February last year, following a five-year investigation which began in 2018.
While Ceferin would not be drawn on the Premier League’s investigation, he remained adamant UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body made the right call four years ago.
Aleksander Ceferin believes UEFA were right to ban Manchester City from European competitions back in 2020
The two-year ban was reversed by CAS and City won the Treble last season
Ceferin (right) is adamant UEFA lawyers made the right call but respects CAS’ verdict
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‘We know we were right,’ he told The Telegraph.
‘We wouldn’t decide if we didn’t think we were right.’
City, who have steadfastly denied any wrongdoing, had their ban overturned by CAS on the grounds some of the accusations were unproven and some of the evidence against them was time-barred.
While Ceferin respects CAS’ decision, he maintains the verdict reached by UEFA was correct.
‘I don’t want to speak about the case in England,’ he added.
‘But I trust that the decision of our independent body was correct. I didn’t enter into this decision.’
The Premier League have previously accused City of using delaying tactics to stall their investigation, but Richard Masters confirmed last week a date had been set for the trial.
The Premier League chief executive, however, refused to say when it will take place.
City face 115 charges of alleged financial breaches from the Premier League
Pep Guardiola’s side deny any wrongdoing and previously insisted that they have ‘irrefutable evidence’ to back their case
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said last week a date for the trial was set
Mail Sport revealed in November that the Premier League and City had agreed to begin the most significant disciplinary case in the competition’s history in the autumn of 2024.
Pressure on the Premier League to progress with City’s investigation has been exacerbated by the recent charges against Everton and Nottingham Forest.
The Toffees were hit with a 10-point penalty in November last year for breaching the Premier League’s profit and sustainability regulations (PSR).
They could now face a new points deduction along with Forest after being charged for a similar offence earlier this month.
Ceferin said he understood the frustration of Everton and Forest fans in light of City’s ongoing case.
‘They want to know what’s going on and what are the consequences but I don’t want to enter into this concrete process because I don’t know what the Premier League is dealing with,’ he explained.
‘I really don’t want to criticise, or something like that. It wouldn’t be fair.’
Speaking during his appearance before MPs at a Culture, Media and Sport select committee hearing last week, Masters was asked if he understood the fans’ frustration at the investigation into City.
‘Yes, but they are very different charges,’ he replied.
‘The volume and character of the charges laid against Manchester City are being held in a completely different environment.’