A club transformed by lavish investment in part to promote the emirate of Abu Dhabi on the world stage is damaged by deceptions in the pursuit of glory on the soccer field. Cut through all the raging against the footballing prosecutors by City, UEFA showed there is a price to pay for misleading the governing body of European soccer.

Pep Guardiola admits Manchester City will ultimately be judged on whether they win the Champions League despite wrapping up an unprecedented domestic treble with a 6-0 whipping of Watford in the FA Cup final. The 48-year-old Spaniard said in the immediate aftermath of Saturday's rout the domestic treble is more difficult than winning the Champions League because it demands greater consistency over gruelling season.

UEFA's financial control body said on Thursday it had referred Premier League champion Manchester City to an adjudicatory chamber for alleged breaches of financial fair play regulations. Abu Dhabi-owned City said it was "disappointed but regrettably not surprised" by UEFA's decision. City reportedly faces a season-long ban from the Champions League if found to have breached the regulations.