UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin acknowledged that the disciplinary chiefs were correct in their decision to ban Manchester City from the Champions League for breaching Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations. In an exclusive interview with Telegraph Sport, Ceferin commented on the ongoing saga, expressing understanding for the mounting angst over the prolonged case. However, he refrained from stating whether City, who denied any wrongdoing, should be stripped of titles if found guilty by an independent commission.
Ceferin stated, “We know we were right. We wouldn’t decide if we didn’t think we were right,” affirming the correctness of UEFA’s decision in imposing sanctions on City. He emphasized respect for the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s (CAS) decision, which overturned City’s two-year European ban but fined them €10 million for failing to cooperate with investigators.
Regarding the lengthy investigation by the Premier League into City’s FFP breaches, Ceferin acknowledged fan frustration, stating, “They want to know what’s going on and what are the consequences.” However, he refrained from criticizing the process, emphasizing the need for fairness.
Ceferin also discussed potential new UEFA regulations on multi-club ownership, expressing a desire for clearer rules defining “decisive influence” on more than one club. He highlighted the “biggest problem” with multi-club ownership as one of “perception,” citing concerns about fair competition and potential conflicts of interest.
As the scrutiny on football club ownership intensifies, Ceferin’s remarks indicate a focus on maintaining transparency and fair competition within the sport. The ongoing investigations and discussions surrounding Manchester City’s case and multi-club ownership regulations underscore the challenges football authorities face in ensuring integrity and accountability.
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