To be fair to them, the emails were real, apart from a couple spliced together, if provided out of context. I also don't have an issue with the emails being published if there was considered to be a public interest. The inferences weren't unreasonable, either, based on the content of the emails, although ask any lawyer, they were never going to stand up in any legal proceeding as anything other than discussions absent any really compelling evidence that what was discussed actually happened. None of those things are the issue. I don't even have a problem with UEFA and the PL opening investigations (although I criticise the PL for not waiting until the UEFA/CAS case was over and building those findings into their case). Let's face it, they had to.
The issues in my book are:
Firstly, why so much attention from der Spiegel to City in their review of emails? They were innocuous enough to anyone without a detailed knowledge of City's 2014 settlement and the financial and organisational structure of the club. Now, who would have that, I wonder?
Secondly, why was it prosecuted with such vigour by UEFA and later the PL when it must have been / must be clear there was / is no chance of proving the charges/allegations around "disguised equity contributions"? Who would have an interest in besmirching the club's good name with charges, sanctions and allegations just for shits and giggles, I wonder?