Fifth place in the Premier League could be of paramount importance for clubs in the top flight this season.
That's because the Premier League's fifth-placed team will be in line to take England's fourth Champions League position, should Manchester City's UEFA ban be implemented.
Pep Guardiola's side have been banned by Uefa from Europe's premier competition for the next two seasons after being found guilty of "serious breaches" of financial fair play regulations, and were also fined £25million.
City, who have denied all accusations since charges were brought last May, have appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, as confirmed by CAS in a statement on their website.
It read: "The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has registered an appeal filed by Manchester City football club against the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA).
"The appeal is directed against the decision of the Adjudicatory Chamber of the UEFA Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) dated 14 February 2020 in which Manchester City was deemed to have contravened UEFA’s Club Licensing and Financial Fair Play Regulations and sanctioned with exclusion from the next two seasons of UEFA club competitions for which the club would qualify and ordered to pay a fine of EUR 30 million.
"Generally speaking, CAS appeal arbitration procedures involve an exchange of written submissions between the parties while a Panel of CAS arbitrators is being convened.
"Once the Panel has been formally constituted it issues procedural directions, including, inter alia, with respect to the holding of a hearing. Following the hearing, the Panel deliberates and then issues its decision in the form of an Arbitral Award.
"It is not possible to indicate at this time when a final award in this matter will be issued."
But if City fail in their appeal, it could open up fifth spot in the Premier League this season as a qualification spot for next season's Champions League.
And that could be a huge boost to Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Sheffield United, Manchester United, Wolves or Arsenal.
It could become increasingly important for Arsenal now, after the Gunners exited the Europa League at the hands of Greek side Olympiacos, losing out on away goals.
That was looking like Arsenal's most likely route to Champions League football, with the winners of the Europa League qualifying for next season's Champions League.
But now, they will have to try and qualify for Europe through the league, with fifth place now being the target for Mikel Arteta and his Gunners.
