The current English champions will know in July if they will participate in next season’s Champions League.
This is coming on the heel of the appeal filed by the Etihad club at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) expects to overturn a UEFA punishment.
CAS has therefore announced that the noisy neighbours will likely learn the fate in early July.
Recall that UEFA had initially banned the Premier League champions from participating in the club elite competition for the next two seasons and fine them €30 million (£27m/$34m) after they were found guilty of Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations.
The decision is coming after the hearing at CAS that began on Monday was concluded on Wednesday afternoon, with proceedings done via video call. So, after deliberations by the arbitration panel, they will come to a decision.
According to a statement released by CAS, the decision will expectedly be issued during the first half of July 2020. The court said the exact date for the judgment would be communicated in advance.
UEFA, through its independent Adjudicatory Chamber of its Club Financial Control Body (CFCB), had banned City in February after they were found to have committed “serious breaches” of UEFA’s club licensing and financial fair play (FFP) regulations.
CFCB found out that they overstated sponsorship revenues in accounts submitted to European football’s governing body between 2012 and 2016, which City have persistently denied.
The governing body was forced to investigate the Premier League club after series of articles were published by Der Spiegel in November 2018, drawing on information purportedly obtained by the whistleblower Football Leaks.
City had, in a statement, said has always anticipated the ultimate need to seek out an independent body and process to consider the extensive evidence in support of its position impartially.
Before reaching the decision, UEFA had said City failed to cooperate with the investigation.
City Manager Pep Guardiola, whose contract ends with the club in June 2021, had reiterated his commitment in the wake of UEFA’s sanctions. He said he would stay with the club no matter the outcome unless he is sacked.
He added that he loves the club and wants to stay, continue to help them maintain the level as long as possible.
Star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, in an interview with HLN, also hinted that he might be happy to stay at City in the event of a reduction to a one-year ban, but can’t wait two years without Champions League football.
