Football world left shocked, bemused after City's European ban lifted
Confirmation that the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned Manchester City's European ban Monday triggered a wide array of reactions across the football world.
While City fans were undoubtedly ecstatic about the outcome, there were plenty of skeptics on social media questioning how City escaped the severe punishment with nothing more than a slap on the wrist. Others criticized UEFA and the efficacy of Financial Fair Play regulations:
RIP FFP
— Barney Ronay (@barneyronay) July 13, 2020
It's the end of FFP as we know it.
— Kristof Terreur 📰🎥 (@HLNinEngeland) July 13, 2020
City 1-0 Uefa. Biggest win of the season.
— Oliver Holt (@OllieHolt22) July 13, 2020
I hope Manchester City supporters are enjoying this. Great players come and go. Trophies are won and lost. But this level and scale of fume from opposition fans is rare. Perhaps once in a lifetime. Enjoy it. Drink it in. These are the moments every fan should live for.
— Nooruddean (@BeardedGenius) July 13, 2020
Hi @UEFA, how much did City pay you?
— Boring James Milner (@BoringMilner) July 13, 2020
Financial Fair Play a farce, absolute farce.
— John Solano (@Solano_56) July 13, 2020
Meanwhile, Roma sacrifices a generation of talent in order to appease a governing body in UEFA that can’t even enforce its own measures.
BREAKING: UEFA updates rules around Financial Fair Play. pic.twitter.com/CMFWLLyRwD
— Have I Got News For You (@haveigotnews) July 13, 2020
UEFA trying to stop clubs taking advantage of for Financial Fair Play. pic.twitter.com/njaiI94mXM
— YNWABible (@YNWABible) July 13, 2020
Even former players chimed in on the ruling:
Hard to see how UEFA’s FFP rules can survive this. In fact, can UEFA survive the ramifications?
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) July 13, 2020
Happy for city with decision being overturned... ffp now being called in to question... simple solution forget ffp... bring in salary cap for all teams and problem solved... if teams breach those rules which is easier to prove, hit them hard and they won’t just like in US SPORTS
— John Barnes (@officialbarnesy) July 13, 2020
Early 90's weak FA leadership let PL rule the roost. Never been same since.
— Stan Collymore (@StanCollymore) July 13, 2020
UEFA now have done the same with Europe's big clubs, again. Choked. Bottled it.
Conclusion? Clubs will find even more creative ways to do whatever they like.
A Super League of some description beckons.
Monday's decision also didn't sit well with La Liga president Javier Tebas:
La Liga president Javier Tebas has not taken @ManCity verdict well: “We have to reassess whether the CAS is the appropriate body to which to appeal institutional decisions in football. Switzerland is a country with a great history of arbitration, the CAS is not up to standard.”
— Simon Stone (@sistoney67) July 13, 2020
At least someone was happy (sort of):
What was that about being banned from Europe sit down PISSFLAPS MCFC x
— Liam Gallagher (@liamgallagher) July 13, 2020
It's hard to imagine many were more pleased with the news than City manager Pep Guardiola:
Pep and his backroom staff celebrating the news 😅👏 pic.twitter.com/7VVYrKvPaA
— Soccer AM (@SoccerAM) July 13, 2020
Manchester United legend Gary Neville was also vindicated after predicting the outcome in February:
"I think City will beat UEFA. I have no faith in them at all" 👀
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) July 13, 2020
Throwback to February when @GNev2 called the Manchester City UEFA ban overturn...pic.twitter.com/RMzEx0yM6g