Manchester City have slammed the UEFA Club Financial Control Body’s (CFCB) investigation into alleged breaches of Financial Fair Play (FFP), describing it as a “hostile process” after being referred to the organisation’s adjudicatory chamber.

The Premier League champions were alleged to have breached rules relating to FFP in articles by German publication Der Spiegel, which drew upon documents purportedly obtained by whistleblowers Football Leaks.

City denied wrongdoing, but the CFCB began an investigation into the club in March, with former Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme leading as chief investigator.

UEFA confirmed on Thursday that City’s case had been referred to the CFCB’s adjudicatory chamber for a final decision following the conclusion of Leterme’s probe, with the club reacting angrily.

A City statement read: “Manchester City Football Club is disappointed, but regrettably not surprised, by the sudden announcement of the referral to be made by the CFCB IC chief investigator Yves Leterme.