Manchester City may not discover if they have been suspended from European football until August, according to the latest reports.
City in February were hit with a two-year Euro ban by UEFA over financial fair play breaches, and the Premier League champions made clear instantly their intention to appeal the decision.
The case would be taken to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), and it has been confirmed City’s appeal will be heard over three days from Monday.
However, the comsmedia claim a resolution to the case may not be reached for up to TWO months – a delay which could cause chaos for next season’s Champions League.
Despite the delays to the football season caused by coronavirus, UEFA are expected to make the draw for the 2020/21 European competitions sometime in August – the same month City will discover their fate.
European football’s governing body want the appeal decision delivered before the draw, to prevent possible confusion should the ban be upheld.
If City are suspended from European football for the next two years, it is expected the team which finishes fifth in the Premier League will take their place in the Champions League.
City’s local rivals Man United are currently fifth on 45 points, though Wolves and Sheffield United are only two points behind the Red Devils – and the Blades have a game in hand over the clubs ahead of them.
