‘We were right’ - Uefa president gives shocking take on Man City FFP charges

Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin has made a remarkable and inflammatory claim that Uefa were right in their decision to ban Manchester City from European competitions in 2020, despite that ruling being overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

City were banned from Uefa competitions for two years for alleged serious Financial Fair Play breaches and for misleading European football’s governing body. City always denied any wrongdoing and CAS quashed the initial verdict claiming that most of the alleged breaches were either ‘not established or time-barred’, although the club were handed a £9m fine for failing to cooperate with the process.

Speaking in a recent interview, Ceferin stressed that he respects the ruling from CAS but also feels justified in bringing the initial allegations against City. “We know we were right. We wouldn’t decide if we didn’t think we were right,” the 56-year-old said in an interview with the Telegraph.

“As a trial lawyer for 25 years, I know that, sometimes, you win a case that you are sure you will lose,” Ceferin added. “And, sometimes, you lose a case when you’re sure… You just simply have to respect in a serious democracy the decision of the court.”

Ceferin’s interview comes amid another case brought against City for allegedly breaking and duping financial laws, although the European champions have once again denied the Premier League’s 115 charges.

“I don’t want to speak about the case in England. But I trust that the decision of our independent body was correct. I didn’t enter into this decision,” said Ceferin.

Asked if he could understand fans’ frustrations that City’s charges remain outstanding, while Everton and Nottingham Forest have been charged by the Premier League, Uefa’s president replied: “They want to know what’s going on and what are the consequences but I don’t want to enter into this concrete process because I don’t know what the Premier League is dealing with. I really don’t want to criticise, or something like that. It wouldn’t be fair.”

Last week, Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said a date had been set for City's case, although he failed to reveal when that will be, and explained why City's alleged breaches differed from those of Forest and Everton.

"They are very different charges. If any club, whether they are the current champions or otherwise, had been found in breach of the spending rules for year '23, they would be in exactly the same position as Everton or Nottingham Forest.

"The volume and character of the charges laid before Man City, which I cannot talk about at all, are being heard in a completely different environment.

"There is a date set for that proceeding. Unfortunately, I can't tell you when that is but that is progressing. I can't give any details on Man City beyond saying a date has been set, I can't tell you when that date is."