Guardiola: Man City will not face a Champions League ban

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Pep Guardiola insisted Manchester City will not face a Champions League ban for alleged Financial Fair Play breaches.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin confirmed this week there is a ‘concrete case’ being investigated and sources claimed a suspension from European competition could follow.

Guardiola maintained that he has been given assurances by chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak and chief executive Ferran Soriano that the threat of a ban will not be followed up on.

‘We will not be banned, no,’ Guardiola said. ‘That’s what I think because I have trust in my chairman, with my CEO, what they have explained to me.

‘I have trust in them. (But) if it happens, because UEFA decide that, we will accept it and move forward.’

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City were fined £49m and had their squad capped for failing FFP rules four years ago. They have come under fresh scrutiny by fresh documents obtained by Football Leaks.

They claim that City’s holding company paid £59.5million of Etihad’s annual sponsorship deal, with only £8m coming from the airline.

City’s response to the allegations has been: ‘We will not be providing any comment on out-of-context materials purportedly hacked or stolen from City Football Group and Manchester City personnel and associated people. The attempt to damage the club’s reputation is organised and clear.’

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