A second investigation has been opened into City by UEFA amid claims they have altered their accounts to meet FFP guidelines. The Premier League champions have already been fined for a breach and UEFA have warned that they could face the “heaviest punishment”. UEFA rules state that if City were to be punished and dumped out of the Champions League, the place in the competition would go to the next best-placed side in the same domestic league.
That would mean fifth-place would take the spot, which opens the door for City rivals Manchester United and Arsenal, reports the Times. Both remain in the hunt for the top four with Arsenal only three adrift of Chelsea and just seven behind Tottenham in third. United meanwhile are six behind Chelsea in fourth, although they have won their last four matches under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
United are still in the knockout stages of this season’s competition and can secure their spot in there next season by winning it. The same is the case for Arsenal in the Europa League but they may get another shot if UEFA do decide to come down hard on City.