STILL NO CITY HEARING A YEAR ON ...WHILE TOFFEES CHEWED UP FAST

AHEAD of the Premier League-charges derby at the Etihad yesterday, what should have been a notable anniversary passed with little attention.

It is now just over ONE YEAR since Manchester City were accused of 115 breaches of Premier League regulations.

In that time, Everton have had 10 points deducted for breaches of the profit and sustainability rules and now, along with Nottingham Forest, face another charge.

Any second dose of punishment for Everton will apply to this season’s standings.

Meanwhile, no date has been announced for the hearing into City’s alleged misdemeanours.

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters says that a date has been set, but he is not at liberty to tell us when it is. Therefore, we are at liberty to believe him, or not to believe him.

You can probably be sure about one thing – it will not be before the end of this current season.

Back in 2014, a leaked email from Simon Cliff – City’s inhouse lawyer – said that chairman Khaldoon al-mubarak (right) had told Gianni Infantino, then the general secretary of UEFA, that he would not accept a financial sanction for exceeding a loss limit, and “would rather spend £30million on the best 50 lawyers in the world to sue [UEFA] over the next 10 years”. City are not afraid to pay for the best lawyers if faced with situations like this. It seems they are on another collision course with the Premier League over amendments to rules governing commercial deals that, primarily, are there to stop clubs signing sponsorship agreements with an “associated party” at what could be perceived as inflated prices.

The reforms were narrowly voted through by the 20 clubs on Friday, but one club is reported to be preparing a challenge.

That one club is widely believed to be City.

This issue is separate from the 115 charges, but there is no doubt the Premier League’s financial regulatory system will

Manchester City are not afraid to pay for the best lawyers when faced with situations like this...

be under heavy legal scrutiny in the coming months, even years.

Meanwhile, the outcome of Everton’s appeal against the severity of the 10-point sanction is expected to be announced in the next week.

And then an independent commission will crack on with hearing the next charge.

Everyone knows the charges against City are more complex and more historical. And that City are denying them, fighting them with all their vigour.

But for a year to pass with still no sign of a resolution is a reminder of what should be seen as a fundamental problem with the Everton judgement.

“Just like everyone else, we are all wondering what makes one rule for one and one for another,” said boss Sean Dyche.

And very, very few would not share those sentiments.