Pep’s men in a sweat over ban

MANCHESTER CITY may have to wait for two months to find out whether their Champions League ban has been overturned.

City’s appeal against their two-year ban for breaking UEFA’S Financial Fair Play rules is being heard next week by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Pep Guardiola’s side were hit with the suspension, plus a £25m fine, for overstating the club’s sponsorship revenues between 2012 and 2016 to meet FFP.

City’s appeal will be heard over three days from Monday.

Ferran Soriano (inset), City’s chief executive, has already declared the club’s desire for an “early resolution” so they can plan accordingly.

But CAS sources have revealed a final decision on City’s Champions League fate for next season could take up to two months.

UEFA and City want the appeal decision delivered before the draw is made for next season’s Champions League group stage.

The club are currently second in the Premier League and certain to finish in the top four, meaning the team that finishes fifth could claim a Champions League spot if the ban is upheld. ■ THIS season’s Champions League could be decided in a ‘Final 8’ World Cup-style in Lisbon.

UEFA are due to meet on June 17 to decide how to finish both that competition and the Europa League.

Both are due to restart in the first week of August, after domestic leagues and cups across the continent are completed.

The plan, which will be voted on when UEFA meet on Wednesday week, is for the Champions League to be completed in a behindclosed-doors mini-tournament, possibly over 10 days with quarter-finals, semi-finals and then the final on August 29.