The Premier League faces an "awkward" scenario which could see Manchester City claim the title and, almost simultaneously, be found guilty of the 115 charges against them.
Pep Guardiola's side have played with such a cloud hanging over them for well over a year whilst legal proceedings continue. They are again in contention to land the title, which would be their fifth in sixth years if they get the better of Arsenal.
City themselves have always denied any wrongdoing and protested their innocence, but the possibility remains that they are found guilty. That would be a terrible look for the Premier League and its authorities if a decision is handed down just as they pick up the trophy.
They write: "English football now faces the very real - and awkward - possibility of the club being crowned champions at the same time as a tribunal finds it guilty of egregious rule breaches over many years. There is even a chance, albeit an incredibly unlikely one given the time left in the season, that City wins the League but receives a points deduction, handing the title to Arsenal.
"City competing for the title is now something of a nightmare for the Premier League. Like most arbitrations, the proceedings are confidential. That confidentiality and the 16-month wait has left rumours swirling and many scratching their heads about what is going on behind closed doors."
Guardiola himself has gone to bat for the club in press conferences, even if the charges cover a period which started in 2009 and went on until 2018. He was only at the helm for two of those years, but has claimed previously he would leave if the club's promise of innocence turned out to be a lie.
The Lawyer states that the drawn out process is likely down to judges working on other cases or a decision still being thrashed out by those involved.
Further reasons for the delay could simply be due to the three judges involved not agreeing on a verdict. The publication states that judges typically prefer to avoid split judgments and if there are disagreements the likelihood is the trio will try to come to some agreement, but again that takes time.
A less likely scenario could see the parties in settlement discussions. For that to happen, City themselves may have to own some kind of wrongdoing, which would be a huge shift in stance.
