Football news - Manchester City hit with financial fair play probe

German newspaper Der Spiegel published a stream of claims against the Premier League champions – namely that City’s Abu Dhabi owners inflated sponsorship agreements in order to comply with FFP requirements.

In response, City said information had been "hacked" and published "out of context", adding that they welcomed the opening of a formal investigation.

"The accusation of financial irregularities are entirely false," the club said in a statement. "The club’s published accounts are full and complete and a matter of legal and regulatory record."

The club previously fell afoul of FFP rules in 2014.

Der Spiegel’s report, based on documents received by the whistle blower platform Football Leaks, alleged that some of City’s Abu Dhabi sponsorships were three times more lucrative than independent experts deemed they were worth.

UEFA said following the publication that it could re-open investigations on a case-by-case basis.

The FFP rules are intended to prevent clubs receiving unlimited amounts of money through inflated sponsorship deals with organisations related to the owners.

Clubs can be barred from European competition if they are found to have breached the rules.