Manchester City must decide if they will pay Uefa fine

On the weekend that Manchester City hope to lift the Premier League title their executives will decide whether to accept a final "take it or leave it" offer from Uefa over their swingeing sanction under financial fair play rules.

City had been considering rejecting the sanction tabled by Uefa's club financial control body (CFCB), which amounted to a fine of €60 million spread over three seasons and restrictions on their Champions League squad for next season.

Deadline
With the deadline for negotiations expiring yesterday evening, it is understood eight of the nine clubs that have fallen foul of the FFP rules were close to agreeing a settlement. Only City's remained outstanding.

Following a day of tense negotiations, City were issued with a final offer to be considered over the weekend, with club executives expected to liaise with the owner, Sheikh Mansour, over whether to accept the sanction or fight on.

If City reject Uefa's final offer, which is not expected to differ hugely from the original proposed sanction, then the matter would be referred to the adjudicatory chamber of the CFCB, which could theoretically issue an even harsher penalty up to and including expulsion from European competition. Beyond that City could appeal to the court of arbitration for sport.

Settlements
An announcement is expected on Monday on all nine settlements. It is believed the other eight "plea bargains" are close to completion.

Manchester City lost €187 million over the two seasons under consideration by Uefa under its new rules, which allow clubs to make a loss of €45 million once investment in infrastructure, youth development and contracts signed before June 2010 have been deducted.

City were furious at being bracketed with Paris Saint-Germain, whose €200 million per season sponsorship deal with the Qatar Tourism Authority was deemed to be twice the market value by Uefa’s accountants, and City believed they should have narrowly passed the test.

But Uefa are believed to have had concerns over their €43 million per season deal with Etihad and two contracts relating to the licensing of intellectual property to City franchises around the world and an image rights deal that amounted to €58 million in 2011-12.

Alongside a €60 million fine the initial sanctions imposed on City and PSG would limit their squad for Champions League matches to 21. – Guardian Service