Man City react to Cas ruling after Uefa ban overturned

Cas found that City had not ‘disguised equity funding as sponsorship contributions’

Manchester City will be free to play in the Champions League next season (Getty Images)

Manchester City have welcomed the ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) to overturn their two-year ban from Uefa competition.

Cas found that City had not “disguised equity funding as sponsorship contributions”, as Uefa had ruled. However, the club “did fail to cooperate with the Uefa authorities” and has therefore seen its fine maintained but reduced to €10m (£9m).

In a statement released immediately on the verdict being announced, City said: “Whilst Manchester City and its legal advisors are yet to review the full ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the Club welcomes the implications of today’s ruling as a validation of the Club’s position and the body of evidence that it was able to present.

“The Club wishes to thank the panel members for their diligence and the due process that they administered.”

Uefa said: ”Uefa takes note of the decision taken by the Court of Arbitration for Sport to reduce the sanction imposed on Manchester City FC by Uuefa’s independent Club Financial Control Body for alleged breaches of the Uefa Club Licensing and Financial Fair Play regulations.

“Uefa notes that the CAS panel found that there was insufficient conclusive evidence to uphold all of the CFCB’s conclusions in this specific case and that many of the alleged breaches were time-barred due to the five-year time period foreseen in the Uefa regulations.

“Over the last few years, Financial Fair Play has played a significant role in protecting clubs and helping them become financially sustainable and Uefa and ECA remain committed to its principles.

“Uefa will be making no further comments on the matter.”