- Eight from Premier League top-10 write to the Court of Arbitration against City’s appeal
- Manchester City was hit with a two-year ban from Champions League football
- City currently lie second in the Premier League table
Eight teams from the Premier League have written a letter to the Court of Arbitration against an appeal made by Manchester City following their two-year ban from the Champions League.
The move comes as a major blow to Pep Guardiola’s team which had presented an appeal against their two-year ban from UEFA for breaching Financial Fair Play rules.
The eight teams which include Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool submitted a joint application to the court.
In their letter, the eight teams fear that City could ask to have their punishment deferred while the appeal is ongoing – and since the 2019/20 season is on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic, a move that will see Guardiola’s team competing in next season’s Champions League campaign.
One source close to the Application made was quoted saying:
The feeling is that enough is enough. For too long, City have been able to get away with breaching the rules at the expense of at least one other club that has been unable to get into the Champions League.
Manchester City currently lie second in the Premier League with 57 points and with a game at hand against Arsenal. Should the season resume, the title holders are set to finish within the Champions League spots which should guarantee them a spot in next season’s European campaign.
In the event that the ban will be upheld and City finish within the top four, their spot will be given to the team that will be lying fifth in the table.
In the current campaign, City are still in the competition and stand to proceed to the last-8 having won 2-1 over Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu back in February.
