UEFA breaks silence on potential Champions League ban for Man City

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin [Courtesy]

Aleksander Ceferin insists UEFA will not shy away from sanctioning Manchester City amid fears of a ban from the Champions League.

City have been under investigation by a regulatory committee over a series of leaks into their financial conduct published in German outlet Der Spiegel.

Reports last week suggested City may face a Champions League ban if found guilty with UEFA referring the case to Club Financial Control Body adjudicatory chamber.

City have dismissed any wrongdoing and branded the accusations "entirely false", maintaining their hope of a positive outcome.

The investigation is set to rumble on for weeks if not months and while Ceferin refused to comment on the individual case, he insists UEFA will have no qualms about coming down hard on any club.

“Sometimes we forget how dirty this industry is," Ceferin told the New York Times.

City were fined and hit with a restriction on transfer spending after an initial breach in 2014 while PSG's dealings have also been investigated.

There have been fears European heavyweights such as City and PSG would manage to avoid a heavy sanction, while lesser names wouldn't be as fortunate.

Manchester City players celebrate after winning the 2018/2019 Premier League title [Courtesy]

But Ceferin added: "If you do it right, you don’t sell yourself.

"If you are not involved in any strange business, if you are not corrupted, then you go straight forward and be fair to anyone."

Manchester City admitted they were "disappointed but regrettably not surprised" by the developments of last week.

A statement read: "Manchester City is entirely confident of a positive outcome when the matter is considered by an independent judicial body.

"The accusation of financial irregularities remains entirely false and the CFCB IC referral ignores a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence provided by Manchester City FC to the Chamber.

"The decision contains mistakes, misinterpretations and confusions fundamentally borne out of a basic lack of due process and there remain significant unresolved matters raised by Manchester City FC as part of what the Club has found to be a wholly unsatisfactory, curtailed, and hostile process."