This is the question repeated every time there is a PSR decision and completely overlooks the complexity of the City case.

Nottingham Forest and Everton didn’t actually deny a breach of PSR rules, they put forward mitigation for why they had.

The cases themselves were relatively simple. The independent commissions had to decide to what extent they accepted the mitigations, and the same for the appeal panels.

In contrast, City are facing 115 charges, some of which date back to 2009. In addition, City are said to have concealed payments made by Sheikh Mansour through third parties and disguised them as sponsorship revenue, which in itself was inflated.

This is detailed, serious stuff and the club deny it. The legal argument simply cannot be heard in the same timescale as the Everton and Forest cases. Even if the hearing is later this year, it will probably be months before a decision is reached.

Premier League chief Richard Masters was asked a similar question by UK government MPs when he appeared before the Culture, Media and Sport (CMS) committee earlier this year and replied: “I can [understand] but they are very different charges.

“If any club, the current champions or otherwise, had been found in breach of the spending rules, they would be in exactly the same position as Everton or Nottingham Forest.

“But the volume and character of the charges laid before Manchester City, which I obviously cannot talk about at all, are being heard in a completely different environment.

“There is a date set for that proceeding. Unfortunately, I can’t tell you when that is but it is progressing.”

Speaking again in April 2024, at a European Leagues meeting in London, Masters added: “The date is set. The case will resolve itself at some point in the near future.”