Financial Fair Play (FFP) has been called into question after Man City successfully overturned the club's two-year ban from European club competitions.
City went to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to appeal the suspension imposed by UEFA back in February for 'serious breaches' of FFP regulations between 2012 and 2016.
On Monday, CAS confirmed City did 'fail to cooperate with UEFA' but cleared the Citizens of 'disguising equity funds as sponsorship contributions'. As well as overturning the ban, City's fine was reduced from €30m to €10m.
Last month, UEFA announced they were relaxing FFP rules because of coronavirus and clubs' financial results in 2020 will instead be assessed alongside 2021's rather than as two separate entities.
FFP was brought in back by UEFA to prevent clubs spending beyond their means and just as Newcastle United's current regime comply with the regulations, the Magpies' would-be owners - Amanda Staveley, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and the Reuben Brothers - would also intend to do so if their takeover finally goes through.
But CAS' ruling is blow for UEFA and Gary Lineker summed up a lot of Newcastle fans' thoughts on social media with his own verdict: 'Hard to see how UEFA’s FFP rules can survive this. In fact, can UEFA survive the ramifications?' the England legend tweeted.
In response to CAS' decision, UEFA issued the following statement:
'UEFA takes note of the decision taken by the Court of Arbitration for Sport to reduce the sanction imposed on Manchester City FC by UEFA’s independent Club Financial Control Body for alleged breaches of the UEFA Club Licensing and Financial Fair Play regulations,' it read.
'UEFA notes that the CAS panel found that there was insufficient conclusive evidence to uphold all of the CFCB’s conclusions in this specific case and that many of the alleged breaches were time-barred due to the five-year time period foreseen in the UEFA regulations.
'Over the last few years, Financial Fair Play has played a significant role in protecting clubs and helping them become financially sustainable and UEFA and ECA [European Club Association] remain committed to its principles.'
