Manchester City have lost their attempt to stop Uefa from investigating allegations of financial fair play breaches, the Court of Arbitration for Sport as announced.
European football's governing body opened an investigation into potential wrongdoing in March following claims by German publication Der Spiegel that the club's Abu Dhabi owners inflated sponsorship agreements to comply with requirements.
City in June challenged the legitimacy of Uefa's probe, claiming investigators had ignored "a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence" provided by the club, but CAS ruled against the appeal because the legal process is not yet at an end.
The adjudicatory chamber of Uefa's Club Financial Control Body can now hold a hearing into the matter, with City facing a possible ban from European competition.
"At CAS we can only hear appeals against final decisions," said Matthieu Reeb, the court's secretary general.
"CAS ruled that the appeal filed by Manchester City football club is inadmissible."
Clubs who have breached FFP rules can ultimately be barred from European competition, with AC Milan most recently banned from competing in this season's Europa League.
Additional reporting by Press Association.
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