Manchester City 'believe ARSENAL behind Premier League plot to have UEFA ban upheld'

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Manchester City reportedly believe Arsenal are the club behind the Premier League group backing to have their two-year ban in Europe upheld if the coronavirus crisis means an appeal is not feasible. 

As Sportmail revealed earlier this week, the top clubs in the Premier League have launched a bid to stop Manchester City playing in the Champions League while their appeal is ongoing. 

Every top-half club bar City and Sheffield United submitted a joint application and now City have 'information from a number of trusted sources' that Arsenal were the club behind the move, according to The Mirror The Gunners refused to comment on the report detailing their supposed involvement. 

However, the report says that Arsenal, managed by former City assistant Mikel Arteta, will tell the current English champions that 'their information is false if the Etihad club contact them directly about the matter'.

Additionally, City are reportedly angry at current league leaders Liverpool for supporting the proposal, alongside Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham, Leicester, Wolves and Burnley.

That anger revolves around the fact that Jurgen Klopp's side have already secured a place in next season's Champions League, having dropped just five points all season before the top-flight was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In January, City were hit with a two-year suspension from European competition after breaching UEFA's Financial Fair Play regulations. 

The club, who were also fined £25million, appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).  

However, the current global health crisis means it is unlikely that CAS will be able to hear all the evidence until late summer. 

As a result, City could ask for the ban to be suspended so they can compete in the Champions League next season, assuming they qualify. 

But their rivals in the Premier League have taken matters into their own hands, writing separately to the same law firm, which has then sent an application backed by all to the arbitration body.