The club will discover whether their appeal against a two-year ban from UEFA competitions was successful on Monday.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has confirmed it will announce a decision on Manchester City and their appeal against a Champions League ban on July 13.

The Switzerland-based body will confirm the verdict at 10:30 local time on Monday, it said in a statement on Friday.

City’s hearing at CAS began on June 8 and concluded two days later, with proceedings having been conducted by video call.

The Premier League club are seeking to overturn UEFA’s decision to ban them from European competition for the next two seasons and fine them €30million (£27.2m) after finding them guilty of “serious breaches” of Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations.

City have persistently denied wrongdoing in relation to the matter, which stemmed from a series of articles published by Der Spiegel in November 2018, drawing on information purportedly obtained by the whistleblower Football Leaks.

“The club has always anticipated the ultimate need to seek out an independent body and process to impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence in support of its position,” read a statement at the time from City, who UEFA said had “failed to cooperate” with the investigation.

Speaking on Friday, City manager Pep Guardiola said he had faith in the club’s chances of success in their appeal.

“I’m so confident because I saw the arguments of the club that next season we will be there [in Champions League],” he said.

In an interview with HLN, star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne suggested he might be happy to stay at City in the event of a reduction to a one-year ban, although a two-year Champions League absence would force him to consider his options.

“I’m just waiting,” he said. “The club told us they are going to appeal, and they are almost 100 per cent sure they are right. That’s why I’m waiting to see what will happen. I trust my team.

“Once the decision is made, I will review everything. Two years would be long, but in the case of one year I might see.”

Manchester City currently sit second in the Premier League, with Liverpool having already clinched the league title.

City, who maintain a nine-point lead over third-place Chelsea, will face Brighton on Saturday.

Source – Goal.com