Newcastle United's arbitration date with the Premier League is now in the public domain.
The Magpies' Competition Appeal Tribunal started today with Adam Lewis QC, speaking on behalf of the Premier League, confirming the arbitration will start on January 3, 2022.
Mr Lewis stated that the Premier League did not want the CAT case to take place and that arbitration will settle the matter once and for all for both the top-flight and Mike Ashley's St James' Holdings.
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Mr Lewis argued that arbitration would benefit both parties.
The opening of the CAT hearing confirmed that Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund are still keen to own 80% of Newcastle United despite rumours of them stepping away from the deal.
Newcastle, represented by Nick De Marco and Daniel Jowell, have made it clear they don't want information surrounding the case to be kept in private.
Speaking on the CAT panel, who will call the shots on the hearing, The Honourable Mr Justice Miles said: "I want to make the following clear that there's a strong presumption in favour of these hearings taking place in public.
"There's a lot of public interest in this case.
"Secondly, a good deal of information about the events that happened are already in the public domain.
"In particular, the details about the decisions made by the league are in the public domain.
"On the other hand, there is a confidential arbitration. It is in the nature of arbitration that it is confidential.
"It's not for one party to say it is does not wish for the matter to be confidential and for that to override the confidentiality of arbitration.
"What we intend to do having heard Mr Lewis' application is to allow him to present the next part of his case in private, without the livestream."
After a short break, Mr Lewis returned to inform viewers that the Premier League felt that arbitration - which does not allow the public to view evidence - was the correct platform for the legal battle to unfold.
He said: "The issues in the CAT claim are the same, that's the summary."
The CAT hearing continues this morning and you can follow it all here with our live blog of the hearing.
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