A critical analysis of ‘Manchester City FC V. UEFA’ in light of the UEFA financial fair play regulations

Abstract

On the February 14th of 2020, Manchester City were sanctioned for breaching UEFA’s Financial Fair Play Regulations for two season and fined €30 million. The reason for the harshness of this ruling, which was the most severe ruling ever issued by UEFA for breaches of the Financial Fair Play Regulations, was based on Manchester City’s overinflating its sponsorship revenues in its accounts and information submitted in fulfilment with the break-even information. The resultant factor from the abovementioned ruling was a legal war pertaining to the Financial Fair Play Regulations of an unprecedented nature. Manchester City mounted a legal challenge towards many aspects of the judgement vis-à-vis UEFA, the Club Financial Control Body and the Financial Fair Play respectively, with the case exposing certain deficiencies in the way the latter is structured. The uniqueness of the case in question, coupled with the understanding of the Financial Fair Play Regulations, provides an opportunity to better understand what needs to change with regard to the Financial Fair Play Regulations to ensure better efficiency on their behalf and more compliance from European football clubs seeking to obtain a UEFA licence.