Uefa ‘confident’ over safety of staff at Man City game amid backlash over Champions League ban

European football’s governing body banned City from all Uefa competitions for two seasons last month after finding the club had breached Financial Fair Play rules

Uefa are “confident” about the safety of their staff and the media when Manchester City host Real Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie later this month.

European football’s governing body banned City from all Uefa competitions for two seasons last month after finding the club had breached Financial Fair Play rules.

City have subsequently taken the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

It was reported by the New York Times that Uefa staff had worn plain clothing rather than branded apparel at the first leg at the Bernabeu last month, and that staff had been warned to follow this approach for all matches involving City.

“We are absolutely confident there will be no issue,” general secretary Theodore Theodoridis told Uefa’s congress in Amsterdam. “In co-operation with security, the venue team and the club, we are confident there will be no problem.”

Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin would not comment on whether they would be seeking a public hearing at CAS when the case is finally heard.

A CAS appeal involving swimmer Sun Yang was held in public last year, while the World Anti-Doping Agency wanted the hearing concerning alleged manipulation of laboratory doping data by Russia to be held in public.

“I absolutely don’t want to comment,” he said. “It’s not up to me to decide on what you are asking.”

Ceferin was asked whether he had confidence in the rigour of the club financial control body (CFCB)’s investigation and judgement in the City case, which is likely to be challenged by the Premier League champions at the CAS hearing.

He said: “As a lawyer I respect the system. The system we have is the investigatory chamber and the adjudicatory chamber and then we have CAS in Lausanne.

“For some administrators it’s a problem if you have an independent body. For me it’s a privilege.

“I have not spoken with any of the members before or after and didn’t see the case, before or after.

“As much as I’ve seen now, Manchester City have gone to CAS and let’s wait for the decision.”

Additional reporting by PA