The English Premier League soccer teams launched a major campaign to prevent Manchester City from returning to participate in the Champions League, during consideration of his appeal against the penalty banning him from participating in European competitions for two years, imposed by the European Union for the game (UEFA).
In an important leak, the British Daily Mail newspaper confirmed that ten of the 12 teams - except for Man City and Sheffield United (owned by a Saudi businessman) - submitted a joint petition to the Sports Arbitration Court (Cass), which listened to the appeal submitted by the Premier League champion against the punishment imposed by UEFA Because the team broke the rules of fair financial play.
The group - which included teams like Liverpool, Man United, Arsenal and Chelsea - addressed the same legal institution that in turn sent the petition to court.
The petition demands that the sentence be kept at Man City while consideration of the appeal is ongoing, and the newspaper quoted "Cass" that the city had not yet submitted a suspension of the sentence while listening to the appeal.
The clubs' move is an important development, and it gives an indication that the other Primerleague teams were part of the campaign rejecting the city's behavior and behavior.
Despite the City administration’s refusal to comment, the atmosphere of Al-Ittihad stadium speaks of a number of the team’s opponents leading the accusations campaign against it.
The Premier League teams seem to fear that the repercussions of the outbreak of the Coruna virus will affect the appeal submitted, the court sessions will be postponed for consideration, and the City will return to the Champions League next season.
The world's highest sports court rejected a request from the newspaper on the 17th of this month to comment on the appeal track, but indicated earlier that it was not possible to set a date for a final decision on the appeal.
City was punished by UEFA last February 14 with a two-year ban on European competitions with a fine of 30 million euros for "serious violations" of the rules of fair financial play.
And if the penalty is applied, City will not be able to participate in the Champions League in the 2020-2021 season if he qualifies for the largest club tournaments on the continent, and he will also miss European competitions in 2021-2022.
The European Union said that Citi violated the rules by inflating sponsorship earnings in his accounts and data sent to him between 2012 and 2016, while the club denied any wrongdoing and criticized the decision.
Abu Dhabi United Development and Investment Group, owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, holds the largest share in the City Football Group, with a share of about 77%.