City's damages claim against UEFA dismissed as FFP verdict looms

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has thrown out Manchester City’s damages claim against UEFA.

The back-to-back Premier League champions lodged a complaint about UEFA’s alleged “unlawful” leaks to the media regarding the club’s possible Financial Fair Play (FFP) violations.

The CAS dubbed City’s claim as “groundless” and “unacceptable in tone,” according to BBC Sport.

According to leaked documents published by German outlet Der Spiegel, Manchester City sidestepped FFP guidelines – restrictions in place to prevent clubs from spending beyond their means – by signing overvalued commercial deals with companies connected with the Mancunian outfit’s Abu Dhabi-based owners.

Manchester City are accused of deceiving UEFA for several years and are understood to have submitted inconsistent answers when questioned during European football’s governing body’s investigatory phase.

Per BBC Sport, the ruling from UEFA’s adjudicatory chamber is “close.” One potential punishment from UEFA is for City to be banned from participating in the Champions League for one season.

Manchester City appealed to the CAS in June to halt UEFA’s FFP proceedings entirely, “challenging the legitimacy and haste” of the case. The CAS threw out that plea in November.