They would have been able to request a further appeal in a future transfer window but were not allowed to register Mariga as a player in the current window, despite agreeing terms with him and a fee with his club.

BBC: Man City's ?7m deal for McDonald Mariga falls through

The document also suggested that the authority believes it has a 12-year retrospective window in which to make a claim and the council believes it can offset overpayments in the past against future ones.

BBC: Birmingham Council House