CAS issue update on Man City appeal hearing against UEFA Champions League ban

Manchester City's appeal against their two-year ban from UEFA competition will be heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport next month

Neither Manchester City nor UEFA have requested a public hearing when the Court of Arbitration for Sport hear City's appeal against their two-year ban from UEFA competition next month.

It means that the public will not be able to view the proceedings.

City were handed a fine and the two-year ban after UEFA found they had broken Financial Fair Play regulations. City have always maintained their innocence, and immediately announced their intention to appeal the rulings. If the appeal fails, City will be banned from the Champions League for two seasons.

CAS will hear that appeal between June 8-10, but their Secretary General Matthieu Reeb has told MEN Sport that the public or media will not be allowed to view proceedings.

Explaining how the hearing will take place given the current social distancing guidelines and lockdown restrictions in Europe, Reeb said: "At this time, only the dates have been confirmed. The format of the hearing (in-person, video link or a mixture of the two) has not yet been confirmed.

"Due to the current travel situation and restrictions on entering Switzerland, a full in-person hearing is very unlikely.

"Neither party has requested a public hearing. It will not be possible for media to view the proceedings."

City say they have been readying their case since they learned UEFA were investigating them, and with both sides confident in their cases, there could be every chance the three-day timetable for the hearing might not be enough.

Though in response, Reeb says that while a timetable for the hearing is still being finalised, they do not envisage an extension past June 10. CAS have other hearings scheduled for June 9 and June 11.

As for when City could discover whether their appeal has been successful, Reeb could offer no time-frame for when a decision will be announced.

He said: "Following the hearing, the Panel will deliberate and will start drafting the Arbitral Award containing its decision. It is not possible to predict at this time how long this process will take."

City will hope to know their fate before the new season begins, as they would know whether they will be eligible to compete in the 2020/21 Champions League campaign.

Last season, the draw for the group stage took place at the end of August, but this is likely to be pushed back as the football calendar deals with the implications of the coronavirus.

The outcome of City's appeal will not only influence their own transfer business this summer, but that of the fifth-placed side in the Premier League, who would qualify for the Champions League rather than the Europa League next season.