It won't be allowed to go quickly, that's the issue.
It's a win-win for the Premier League and the lobbying clubs.
It's a guilty verdict in the first instance, barring City having a strong set of recordings or emails showing this is a witch hunt and irrefutable.
At the very least, they and our rivals know we would appeal until which time we exhaust every avenue up to the High Court.
In the interim, it materially damages us both on and off the pitch. Players we are interested in might look elsewhere, players we have, might demand to move elsewhere.
Commercially, we would be off limits to pretty much everyone but our Abu Dhabi partners.
The timing also conveniently addresses the white paper delay and comes as we still battle for three trophies.
We win something, it is further smeared.
We don't win anything, it has also played its part.
It would be a transfer ban in all but name and clubs such as Chelsea and Arsenal can crack on, while United and Liverpool become more attractive to investors because City's competitiveness is diminished.
Clear and orchestrated, which is why at the very least, it will be medium to short term pain until we clear our name.
We will lose the battle but win the war. Perhaps our rivals are more than comfortable with that.
