From Monday, the Cas International Sports Court in Lausanne will deal with Manchester City's appeal against UEFA's two-year ban on Europe. The ruling is trend-setting for both the Premier League club and UEFA.
Manchester (dpa) - two years without the Champions League? That would be a debacle for the English top club Manchester City.
UEFA has banned star coach Pep Guardiola's club from all European competitions for two years for violating financial fair play. In front of the Cas International Sports Court in Lausanne, Man City hopes to still be able to prevent the ban. The hearing begins on Monday.
What does UEFA Manchester City specifically accuse?
The club is said to have deliberately deceived in order to circumvent the rules of financial fair play. According to UEFA, between 2012 and 2016 Man City declared money as sponsorship income from Abu Dhabi that was actually paid by the club's main owner, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan. This should also include payments from Etihad Airways. Etihad, the main sponsor of Man City, is the national airline of the United Arab Emirates.
What is Manchester City saying about the allegations?
The club denies the allegations and stages itself as the victim of a campaign. The case was initiated by UEFA, pursued by UEFA and judged by UEFA, it said. Managing director Ferran Soriano said the allegations were "simply not true" and assured the fans in an interview with the club that "they will do everything possible" to prove their innocence.
How long is the hearing and when is a judgment expected?
Three days are scheduled for the hearing in Lausanne, which takes place via video. The three-member arbitration tribunal will then consult. According to a Cas spokeswoman, a quick decision is not to be expected. The time could not be foreseen, it said. British media speculated that it could take up to two months.
What would be the consequences of confirming the ban for Manchester City and the Premier League?
Should the Cas confirm the UEFA ban, Man City would be excluded from all European competitions for two years. Coach Pep Guardiola said he would stay in Manchester anyway. Some players, including top stars like Kevin De Bruyne, would probably leave the club. Since Man City is unlikely to finish the Premier League season worse than fourth in the table, the fifth would qualify for the Champions League. The sixth in the table would then participate in the Europa League.
How important is the Cas decision for UEFA?
The decision of the judges in Lausanne points the way for European football. Should UEFA suffer a defeat, it would damage its authority considerably. The umbrella organization has previously been criticized for not consistently enforcing its own rules - including financial fair play. A lifting of the European Cup ban on Man City would again question the financial rules.
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