Manchester City have been accused of “ruining sport” in astonishing attack by one of European football’s leading power brokers.
La Liga president Javier Tebas insists City must be banned from the Champions League with the reigning Premier League champions UEFA president breaks silence on potential Champions League ban for Man City
Tebas says City’s billionaire owner Sheikh Mansour has effectively made European football an unfair playing field with UEFA last week confirming they are considering potential punishment.
Tebas said: “If we allow that money comes in that isn’t generated by the industry itself, and it’s money coming from states, this is no longer sport. This is no longer an industry.
“It becomes more like the toy, the play thing of a state. And when it’s a play thing, kids start playing with other kids. You end up ruining the entire system.
UEFA president breaks silence on potential Champions League ban for Man City
“This is what PSG, Man City or clubs with lots of money can put the entire industry at risk which is what really UEFA should have been working on.
“Because the origin of this entire problem is the inflationary effect that Man City and PSG have created across the whole of Europe and the rest of the clubs in Europe want money to compete with these guys.
“I don’t know what sanctions will fall upon Manchester City but I would not be surprised by any sanction.
“If it was based upon what we have already denounced publicly then we think it should be (a ban), just as PSG should also be outside of European competitions.”
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City have angrily denied wrongdoings and have insisted they will fight any punishment as Pep Guardiola also insists the club has shown him evidence and made him promises they have not broken rules.
But Tebas says he spoke out on City in 2016 and they threatened to take legal action against him - but that has never been forthcoming.
Tebas added: “Manchester City during SoccerEx two years ago, I said they weren’t living up to FFP standards. City sent me faxes and legal documents saying they were going to put me in front of a court in Manchester if I didn’t correct my statements.
“I still haven’t gone to court in Manchester, nor have I been called to present myself there. So I reaffirm what I said on that day. What’s surprising is that it’s taken so long to come to light. It’s been happening for a while.”
