Coronavirus: Double blow for Manchester City

While Manchester City are still grappling with the abrupt suspension of the Premier League and Champions League in the wake of the pandemic coronavirus, the English club have been dealt yet another negative blow.

It is understood that City’s appeal against their controversial two-year UEFA ban from European football may have hit the rocks as the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland is grappling seriously with the impact of the coronavirus.

Before the widespread disease, City had hoped to have their hearing heard by early summer but that may be unrealistic now given the court in Lausanne has already postponed three hearings and has 16 cases already scheduled until May 18, with the City case not yet listed.

CAS Secretary General Matthieu Reeb told Reuters that the court was already making adjustments and was “monitoring the situation closely and continually adapting to the changing circumstances”.

“In-person hearings are still being conducted, where the participants agree to do so,” he added in an email statement.

“When participants are located in high-risk regions, we are offering the possibility of using video or phone links or postponing to a later date.”

City were banned by UEFA on Feb. 14 and fined 30 million euros (27.16 million pounds) for “serious breaches” of its break-even regulations known as Financial Fair Play (FFP).

The ruling, if upheld, would mean City would not be able to compete in the 2020-21 Champions League should they again qualify for Europe’s top club competition. They would also be banned from European competition in the 2021-22 season