Manchester City have hired the lawyer responsible for delaying Brexit to aid the club's appeal against their Champions League ban.
UEFA announced that City would be restricted from entering the competition for two seasons last week for violating Financial Fair Play rules. The club were also fined €30m (£25m) after they were found to have misled UEFA during their investigations.
The Citizens have reassured staff that they will be fighting the ban, and have recruited one of the United Kingdom's top legal professionals to help.
David Pannick QC represented Brexit activist Gina Miller in her two successful challenges to the UK's withdrawal from the European Union. In 2016 Mr Pannick won a case that ensured that Brexit required the consent of MPs before passing into law.
Last year he also represented Mrs Miller when she accused Prime Minister Boris Johnson of giving the Queen unlawful advice during his attempt to prorogue parliament. The Supreme Court eventually ruled that Johnson had indeed acted unlawfully.
According to the Daily Mail, City are forking out £20,000 per day in legal costs to Mr Pannick as they desperately search for any advantage in their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. They hope the process will be concluded by the summer.
City's ban has led to intense speculation over the future of some of the club's star names. One man who insists he will be sticking around is manager Pep Guardiola.
"'I'm confident that we'll play in Europe next season. I'm pretty sure we'll defend our position,' he said earlier this week. "If they don't sack me, I will stay here more than ever. I want to stay longer than the contract that I have. I want to help the club grow and maintain this level for as long as possible. Why should I leave?"
On the pitch, Guardiola's side face the tough prospect of a visit to third placed Leicester City - a side they defeated 3-1 in the reverse fixture in December.
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Source :
90min
