City lodge appeal with CAS over FFP allegations

Club believe there has been “a basic lack of due process”

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) confirmed yesterday that Manchester City have appealed against UEFA's decision to refer the club to a disciplinary body for alleged FFP breaches.

CAS said in a statement: "The appeal is filed against decisions taken by the Investigatory Chamber of the Uefa Club Financial Control Body [CFCB] regarding alleged non-compliance with Uefa's Club Licensing and Financial Fair Play Regulations.

"An arbitration procedure will now be initiated and will involve an exchange of written submissions between the parties while a panel of Cas arbitrators is convened to hear the appeal."

UEFA opened an investigation earlier this year following a series of articles that were published by German magazine Der Spiegel last year, which alleged that City had misled the CFCB with their FFP filings in 2014.

However, apparent leaks to the press regarding the investigation prompted an angry response from City last month. A statement from the club described it as "extremely concerning" and said that their "published accounts are full and complete and a matter of legal and regulatory record".

CAS said that "it is not possible to say at this time when the Arbitral Award for this matter will be issued".