Under review: do FC Porto profit from Manchester City scandal? | OneFootball

Manchester City could face heavy financial and sporting consequences after being found guilty of 114 of the 115 alleged breaches of Premier League regulations brought against them, relating to the period between 2009 and 2018.

Possible measures include fines, transfer bans, stripping of trophies, and points deductions. In the most extreme scenario, the English club could even be relegated to the Championship, the second tier of English football. The scale of the case has already led several clubs to consider seeking compensation, in England and in other countries.

The Antena Sport programme, broadcast this Sunday on the Romanian channel Antena 1, raised the possibility that FCSB, formerly Steaua Bucharest, could seek compensation. At issue is their elimination against Manchester City in the Champions League qualifying playoffs, by an aggregate score of 6-0.

Following that defeat, the historic Romanian club dropped into the Europa League, where they went out in the group stage. They finished fourth and last in Group L with six points, the same as FC Zurich, four fewer than Osmanlispor and three fewer than Villarreal.

The club earned around €4.6 million from its European campaign: €2.6 million for taking part in the competition, €760,000 from results, and €1.1 million through the ‘market pool’. That amount could have increased by €13.7 million if FCSB had reached the Champions League group stage.

The calculations were presented by a lawyer who chose not to reveal his identity. According to the legal expert, qualification for the competition could have been worth €2 million, to which €12.7 million for participation and a further €3 million from the ‘market pool’ would be added, not including performance-based prize money.

“If FCSB could prove that access to the Champions League group stage was prevented by the fact that they had to face Manchester City, then they could move forward with a claim similar to that of the English clubs,” the lawyer explained, in reference to the figures that Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham are also said to be examining.

What if FC Porto does the same?

A possible argument by FCSB could also be applied to FC Porto, who were knocked out by Manchester City in the Europa League round of 32 in 2012. The Dragons lost the tie 6-1 on aggregate over the two legs.

The team, then coached by Vítor Pereira, were beaten 2-1 at the Estádio do Dragão and suffered a 4-0 defeat at the Etihad Stadium. In the next round, the English side faced Sporting, who knocked out Manchester City on away goals after a 3-3 aggregate draw over the two legs.

Years later, the Citizens crossed paths again with FC Porto and Sporting in the Champions League. However, those meetings took place outside the period covered by the alleged breaches.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.