Ceferin Stands Firm: UEFA Justified in Man City Champions League Ban

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin maintains that UEFA was justified in banning Manchester City from the Champions League, despite the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) overturning the decision nearly two years ago. The club faced charges from the Premier League for 115 financial rule breaches with a hearing date set recently. Ceferin, in an interview with the Telegraph, asserted that UEFA’s decision was right and based on their belief in its validity.

While acknowledging the court’s authority, he expressed confidence in UEFA’s independent body’s judgment. The initial ban was overturned due to time-barred evidence and although City won the appeal, they were fined £8.6 million for lack of cooperation. Despite speculation, UEFA hasn’t re-litigated the case and some view the entire saga as a political circus. Football Leaks’ Rui Pinto stated that while Ceferin and others know City breached Financial Fair Play rules, the controversy continues.