Manchester City have been banned from the Champions League for two seasons for committing serious breaches of Financial Fair Play rules.

The reigning Premier League champions have been hit with a two-season ban and fined €30 million by UEFA in a remarkable ruling.

The ban means City will miss the 2020/21 and 2021/22 editions of a competition that they are desperate to win.

They are expected to appeal the ban.

City said in a statement on their website: “Manchester City is disappointed but not surprised by today’s announcement by the UEFA Adjudicatory Chamber.

“The Club has always anticipated the ultimate need to seek out an independent body and process to impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence in support of its position.

“In December 2018, the UEFA Chief Investigator publicly previewed the outcome and sanction he intended to be delivered to Manchester City, before any investigation had even begun.

“The subsequent flawed and consistently leaked UEFA process he oversaw has meant that there was little doubt in the result that he would deliver.

“The Club has formally complained to the UEFA Disciplinary body, a complaint which was validated by a CAS ruling.

“Simply put, this is a case initiated by UEFA, prosecuted by UEFA and judged by UEFA. With this prejudicial process now over, the Club will pursue an impartial judgment as quickly as possible and will therefore, in the first instance, commence proceedings with the Court of Arbitration for Sport at the earliest opportunity.”

So, what does this mean for Pep Guardiola?

The Spaniard was brought in by Man City to deliver the Champions League trophy and his task of doing so will be heavily impacted if the ban remains in place.

His departure from the Etihad Stadium could come sooner than predicted.