'The circus doors are open' — Jose Mourinho believes City's successful appeal will end financial fair play

Jose Mourinho says that Financial Fair Play is finished and that the “circus” doors are open after the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned Manchester City’s Champions League ban.

The Tottenham Hotspur head coach described the CAS decision as a “disgrace”, insisting City should have remained banned if they were guilty or had their two-year suspension overturned and faced no fine if they were innocent.

Mourinho was careful to insist that he was making no judgement on whether he felt City were guilty or innocent, but expects some of football’s richest clubs to take advantage of what he believes marks the end of the financial rules.

“If Man City is not guilty of it, to be punished by some million is a disgrace,” said Mourinho. “If you’re not guilty you’re not punished. In the other way, if you’re guilty you should be banned. So it's also a disgraceful decision. In any case, it’s a disaster.”

City’s fine was reduced to £9 million and Mourinho added: “If you’re not guilty, you don’t pay. I’m not saying Man City is guilty. I’m saying if you’re not guilty you don’t pay. You are not punished, even with a pound.

“I know that money is quite easy for them, but it's just a principle. Why are you paying £9m if you are not guilty? If they are not guilty, the decision is a disgrace. If you are guilty the decision is also a disgrace. If you’re guilty, you should be banned from the competition. My criticism is not for Manchester City, I’m nobody to know if they’re guilty or not. My criticism is for the decision.”

On Wednesday, Mourinho’s Tottenham team travel to Newcastle, who may be one of the first beneficiaries of the uncertainty surrounding FFP as they wait to see if their Saudi Arabia-backed takeover will go ahead.

“I believe that next season, with no FFP, maybe a new owner goes there and spends lots of money, giving Steve Bruce even better conditions. I truly believe FFP is gone. So new owners, probably they will have this feeling of the circus opening the door so let’s go and enjoy it.”

Eighth-placed Tottenham must finish no lower than seventh to stand a chance of qualifying for next season’s Europa League and Mourinho still hopes to build a team capable of challenging for silverware.

Asked whether his job will become harder if his opinion of FFP proves to be correct, Mourinho said: “Spurs is Spurs, and I don't think we change our mentality, which in many aspects is more than correct. I am happy with the way we think here.

“And for me that's just it. I think it's going to be the end of FFP, because there is no point. And I repeat, and it's the only thing I repeat because it's clear in my mind — if City is not guilty, the decision is a disgrace. If City is guilty the decision is also a disgrace."

Mourinho was waiting for training on Tuesday afternoon before finding out whether or not Serge Aurier, whose brother was shot dead in Toulouse in the early hours of Monday morning, will make himself available to face Newcastle.

“In this moment, what myself and other people in the club spoke with him is just about supporting a person who has a tragic family moment,” said Mourinho. “Apart from that, it’s just him, his feelings, his way of reacting.

“Every person is different. Sometimes with similar feelings, people react in a different way. So we’re going to respect 100 per cent Serge's decisions. No pressure from us. This afternoon, before or after training, we’ll have a better idea of what he wants to do.”