Mike Ashley should resolve his takeover dispute with the Premier League in January's arbitration case - argue the Premier League.
The Premier League, as expected, defended their position and felt that the CAT case should not go ahead as it was too similar to the arbitration case.
It has now emerged that the arbitration case starts on January 3, 2022 with the only previous hint at the date being "early 2022".
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Mr Adam Lewis QC, representing the Premier League, 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.
Mr Lewis stated that the arbitration case would be decided in "little over a week" and pointed out that January transfers would still have time to take place regardless of who is owner.
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 the club despite rumours of them stepping away from the deal.
United represented by Nick De Marco and Daniel Jowell argued that there should be no call for confidentiality.
However, Mr Lewis pushed for the case to be decided in arbitration where findings would be kept private.
Mr Lewis said: "The Premier League decided in the summer of 2020 that if the transaction went ahead KSA (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) would be a director.
"The Premier League did not then proceed with the application because at that point PIF was not prepared to proceed the transaction unless either the Premier League decided KSA would not be a director or a relevant tribunal would decide if it would not be a director.
"The contention of the Premier League is that both the CAT claim and arbitration involve the same conduct and same complaints, in other words, the issues are the same.
"Not only is this an attempt to go over the same ground it's also an attempt to go over the same ground in the wrong forum."
The case continues at today's CAT case hearing.
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