City referred to adjudicatory chamber by UEFA over alleged FFP breach

By Ric Turner, Thu 16 May 2019 09:58


City referred to adjudicatory chamber by UEFA over alleged FFP breachClub immediately issue strongly worded response criticising chief investigator

Manchester City have issued a strongly worded response after being referred to Uefa's club financial control body for alleged FFP breaches. The club said that they were "disappointed, but regrettably not surprised" by the decision, and were fiercely critical of chief investigator Yves Leterme.

Earlier in the week the New York Times suggested that UEFA were looking to ban City from the Champions League for one season, which prompted criticism from City who called the leak "extremely concering" given that UEFA had previously pledged not to make any further comment whilst the investigation was ongoing.

Today's decision to refer the club to the CFCB adjudicatory chamber prompted this statement from City:

"Manchester City Football Club is disappointed, but regrettably not surprised, by the sudden announcement of the referral to be made by the CFCB IC Chief Investigator Yves Leterme.

"The leaks to media over the last week are indicative of the process that has been overseen by Mr. Leterme.

"Manchester City is entirely confident of a positive outcome when the matter is considered by an independent judicial body. 

"The accusation of financial irregularities remains entirely false and the CFCB IC referral ignores a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence provided by Manchester City FC to the Chamber. 

"The decision contains mistakes, misinterpretations and confusions fundamentally borne out of a basic lack of due process and there remain significant unresolved matters raised by Manchester City FC as part of what the Club has found to be a wholly unsatisfactory, curtailed, and hostile process."