Manchester City's war with the Premier League over sponsorship rules could rumble on for another YEAR.
The four-in-a-row champions launched a fresh legal assault on the competition after it amended regulations that City had previously and successfully challenged.
Earlier on Tuesday, The Lawyer reported that a tribunal would not hear the arguments in the latest case until mid-October.
While both the Premier League and City declined to comment, insiders believe the date to be accurate.
When City challenged the previous rules, the panel sat in June and an initial verdict was not delivered until September - with a final ruling returned in February.
Should the timeline remain similar, and there is no reason not to believe that will be the case, it could mean that a verdict on the rules which are currently in play would not land until next spring as the saga drags on.
Lawyers for City initially argued that the new Associated Party Transaction rules - designed to stop clubs from signing inflated commercial deals with firms linked to their owners and introduced following the Saudi-led takeover of Newcastle United - contravened competition law.
A panel ruled in their favour however, despite warnings from City, the Premier League pushed on with a number of tweaks. City then launched another legal challenge, claiming that the new regulations continue to 'discriminate' and highlighting a host of rivals, including Arsenal, who they say enjoy an unfair advantage.
The same panel which sided with City on their original complaint will again rule on the latest dispute. Should City again emerge successful the Premier League could see its financial rules thrown into disarray with its clubs hit with another hefty legal bill. The previous case is thought to have cost more than £20m.
The matter is separate from the 130 charges brought against City by the league for alleged breaches of financial rules.
Cohaeimtyz
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Jabacnostu
2
Believe the 115 charges, believe anything. It is a SHAME and a DISGRACE!!! This case has exposed FA's partial and biased treatment against owners looking at new Chelsea owners' reckless spending but no rule is broken Man United also. Another point is FA is charging Man City of a decade long allegations. Why not charge them during previous coaches' time? Why now and in Pep's time? The answer is very clear, because has made Man City the most dominant side ever in EPL history. SHAME! SHAME!! AND SHAME!!!
Jabacnostu
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115 charges whats happening
It is a scam. They don't have a case.
Litelntz
4
Am happy that the whole world can see and understand that the epl are been discriminatory against investors from the middle east/gulf states... when the Americans and Europeans were running the league teams with the investments to buy any players or coaches that they wants there wasn't any rules set against them and their clubs...but as soon as Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabians investors starts buying couple clubs and started to invest then it became a problem....all of a sudden the oil money talk gain traction so from 2012_2013 every rules changes by the Pl or new rules set against city now Newcastle....I think man city and Newcastle should form together and fight these discriminatory financial rules which is obvious came to fruition by the Pl to keep down the gulf states investors and keep on elevating the Europeans and Americans
nourancy
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f
bamadiloty
1
115 charges whats happening
CitizenOfFootball_FC
3
In their recent win against a case.. I came to know that PL were making up cases against them.. That created my suspicion over the PL
CitizenOfFootball_FC
1
if the truth persists.. lies can never win no matter how big they r
Tidceilrsy
2
If the truth persists... Lies can never win no matter how big they r
kabceoz
0
FA gentleman F-----g around with Man city
Barcamancity1
3
They use it to way Manchester City down, Premier League isn't a standard one. shame to them all
Barcamancity1
1
That's the only way to pressure them off title race, nonsense league