Manchester City’s Champions League ban was overturned
Manchester City will be back in the Champions League next season.
As the 2020 Champions League plans to return in August, Manchester City has its sights set on becoming Europe’s top club. That same opportunity looked to be impossible in the two years that followed. That is, until yesterday.
Manchester City was barred from the Champions League and fined 30 million euros for inaccurate reporting of funding that enabled them to surpass the salary cap, while also obstructing investigations by UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body (CFCB).
After an appeal, UEFA investigated the matter and determined the team’s financial violations were largely unfounded, removing the ban while reducing the fine to 10 million euros as well.
For some clubs, the 10 million fine is a significant one, but it will have little effect on a powerhouse like City. In terms of the ban, many speculated of a reduction due to the consequences of keeping one of the world’s top clubs on the sidelines. Now, it is gone in its entirety.
It does raise questions about the politics of soccer that often come into play. If a smaller club were the guilty party here, the results would have likely been a bit different.
Should Manchester City’s Champions League ban have been upheld?
Regardless, the decision has massive repercussions on the UCL race in the Premier League. With second-place City out of the picture, each team looked to move up a spot on the season’s end, booking the top-five in the Champions League and sending the sixth to the Europa League.
With that advance gone, the five-team race for the final two spots behind City and the League’s champion, Liverpool, has only heated up.
Next. Manchester United identify big-name alternative for Jadon Sancho. dark
Even if the latest ruling is questionable, few will complain about watching Manchester City in the Champions League. Unless of course, they stand in your team’s way of the title.