After a 2019 ruling that saw Manchester City banned from playing in European competitions in 2020-21 due to violations of the financial fair play rule, the Court of Arbitration for Sport reversed the previous ruling and lifted the ban.
Pep Guardiola’s club, which for months has fought against what they perceived to be an unfair ruling, was notified on Monday that they would be forced to pay a seven-figure fine as a result of their actions, but that they would not be barred from European competitions after court battles went their way.
While they will have to fork over $11.5 million for their violations, this is a significant reduction from the $34 million original fine that they had been punished with along with the European competition ban.
Man City celebrated the ruling in an official statement posted on the club’s website, stating, “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.”
Allegations against Manchester City included falsely inflating revenue values from sponsorship deals and failure to cooperate in the subsequent investigation.
Monday’s news means that City will participate in the UEFA Champions League next season, and will send teams in the fight for European positions like Wolves, Sheffield United, and Tottenham into an even tenser fight to finish above 7th place and in the European zone.
