The Premier League have doubled down on their refusal to allow Manchester City and Chelsea a late start to next season.
Both sides are competing in FIFA’s first expanded Club World Cup in the US which will run from 14 June to 13 July.
With the new domestic campaign to start on August 16, manager Pep Guardiola revealed last year that City had requested their first two games to be postponed. ‘Thank you so much,’ he added with some sarcasm. ‘It is absolutely not allowed.