Manchester City could face sanctions from UEFA under the financial fair play regulations, similar to those imposed on PSG. According to Sport.fr’s analysis, Manchester City might be fined 20 million euros per season for three years, have restrictions on their squad size in the Champions League, and potentially face exclusion from the competition in the upcoming season. Additionally, their budget for the summer transfer market could be limited.
The suspicion arises from UEFA and the Club Financial Control Body (ICFC) scrutinizing deals with sponsors that are closely linked to the clubs. In PSG’s case, a €200 million deal with the Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) raised concerns, while Manchester City’s ten-year €427 million deal with Etihad, the Abu Dhabi airline, has also come under scrutiny.
If these sanctions are confirmed, Manchester City may need to offload some of their star players to reduce the club’s wage bill. However, the club’s management, including coach Manuel Pellegrini, has refrained from commenting until official information is provided.
Manchester City’s leaders consider the potential sanctions to be disproportionate and are prepared to challenge any forthcoming conviction. Unlike PSG, which admitted to overvaluing their deal with QTA, Manchester City’s leadership has emphasized their commitment to financial fair play despite significant expenditures in recent years.
The situation underscores the challenges faced by clubs in balancing ambitious sporting objectives with compliance with financial regulations, and it remains to be seen how Manchester City will navigate these issues in the coming months.
