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Champions League ban: Shock as three top players linked with Man City exit

Football

By Mirror | Feb 17, 2020

**Man City have been hit with a two-year Champions League ban by UEFA.** [Courtesy]

Manchester City players are set to be hit financially by the club being banned from the Champions League as a result of their UEFA punishment

Manchester City are facing a battle to keep hold of their star players after being handed a two-year Champions League ban from UEFA.

City are taking their case to the Court of the Arbitration for Sport with the hope of a successful appeal to maintain their place in European competitions.

But there are already concerns over the implications for their squad with the likes of Aymeric Laporte and Kevin De Bruyne linked with an exit and Real Madrid tipped to launch a big-money bid for Raheem Sterling.

According to The Athletic, players could be facing a significant financial shortfall as a direct result of not being in the Champions League.

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They are believed to have a number of clauses in their contracts related to the Champions League both directly and indirectly.

The competition brought in £77million for City last season not including gate receipts, with some of this revenue passed on to players via Champions League match bonuses.

**There could be financial ramifications for their players.** [Courtesy]

But they will also face a shortfall in terms of clauses for individual awards, such as the Ballon d'Or, which will become much harder to achieve without the platform of European football.

It also also claimed commercial windfalls for individual players could take a five-figure hit with sponsorships diminished by less exposure and participation in events linked to European competitions.

Despite the financial implications, City players are set to have responded defiantly when addressed by a motivated Pep Guardiola at a meeting on Saturday.

There is said to be a growing desire to prove a point to UEFA with Guardiola reportedly urging players to show they are "more than just money" and prove their talent.

Whilst news of their UEFA punishment is said to have come out of the blue for players, the club have instantly looked to calm and assure agents.

Attentions are now turning to a huge game against Real Madrid in the last-16 of the Champions League later this month in a tie which is now of even greater importance.