Manchester City have revealed their 'disappointment' after being banned from the Champions League for two years by UEFA.
UEFA released a statement on Friday evening revealing that City had been found guilty of 'serious breaches' of the UEFA Club Licensing and Financial Fair Play regulations, as well as failing to cooperate in the investigation by the Adjudicatory Chamber of the Club Financial Control Body (CFCB)
The punishment will see City banned from all European competition for the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons and fined €30 million.
The decision is subject to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), and City have announced they plan to exercise that right.
The club said in a statement: "Manchester City is disappointed but not surprised by today’s announcement by the UEFA Adjudicatory Chamber. The Club has always anticipated the ultimate need to seek out an independent body and process to impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence in support of its position.
"In December 2018, the UEFA Chief Investigator publicly previewed the outcome and sanction he intended to be delivered to Manchester City, before any investigation had even begun. The subsequent flawed and consistently leaked UEFA process he oversaw has meant that there was little doubt in the result that he would deliver. The club has formally complained to the UEFA Disciplinary body, a complaint which was validated by a CAS ruling.
"Simply put, this is a case initiated by UEFA, prosecuted by UEFA and judged by UEFA. With this prejudicial process now over, the Club will pursue an impartial judgment as quickly as possible and will therefore, in the first instance, commence proceedings with the Court of Arbitration for Sport at the earliest opportunity. "
