Gary Neville expects Manchester City to win appeal against 'hopeless' UEFA

Gary Neville has backed Manchester City to win an appeal against a two-season ban from European competition imposed by a "hopeless" UEFA. European football's governing body anunced on Friday that City has been banned from continental competition for two seasons for what UEFA said were "serious" financial fair-play breaches between 2012 and 2016. English Premier League champions City, who were also fined 30 million euros ($32.5 million), responded quickly to say y would appeal to Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Gary Neville expects Manchester City to win appeal

And former Manchester United defender Neville believes City's legal challenge will prove successful.

"I think City will beat UEFA. UEFA, I have faith in m whatsoever," Sky Sports pundit Neville told broadcaster on Monday.

"I think essentially y are a hopeless organisation who will just apply what would be erratic disciplinary sanctions for different things and I think City will beat m in courts." 

Neville added: "I think it will get stuck in courts for some time, but I think City will win in end."  Jamie Carragher, a fellow Sky broadcaster, questioned timing of UEFA's decision given Pep Guardiola's City face Spanish giants Real Madrid in first leg of ir last-16 tie in Champions League later this month. "I can't believe y are in competition w. What would happen if City win this competition this season?," said former Liverpool defender. "y are favourites for it, one of best teams in Europe and it would make a mockery of competition." 

Carragher added: "UEFA will be desperate for Man City to get beat by Real Madrid, absolutely desperate. Can you imagine people from UEFA having to give cup in Istanbul to a Man City player?  " first question Pep would get asked after game is it a fake win? y will be asked questions about merits of club and competition. y are in competition w and if y win it, it will almost be tainted. "I think for UEFA, y should have eir took Man City out of competition right w or left this decision until end of season."