I think (or hope at least) that a huge part the reason UEFA are not having the hearing until late May is that they expect a police investigation to be completed first.
If individuals can be identified then it takes some of the heat off their club, and a fine and warning over future behaviour is likely, possibly a game behind closed doors depending on what emerges in the meantime.
Although it is quite a few individuals to identify, judging from the videos I have seen, and although individuals caused the actual damage and broke the rules, I am not sure that enough was done beforehand to safety ensure a UEFA event went off without a hitch. And UEFA will not like that one bit. At the end of the day only a bus was damaged plus get police officers, but the intent and potential was certainly there for more to have happened. It wasn't just a few drunken louts, it was a crowd over hundred string whipped up into a frenzy, possibly not even match goers, and a weakness in planning which increased the likelihood of damage and injury occurring.
But that point could be interesting, depending on what the initial responses and finding are. If city as a club aren't happy we could take this much further.
The role of Liverpool FC and Merseyside police in publishing the route and actively encouraging a turn out, when evidence was available quite easily to suggest what kind of a reception was being prepared, suggests either naieivey or incompetence, or even more extremely you could argue encouragement to cause damage and break the rules/law in search of any advantage in the tie for the home club.
As city fans we honestly don't need to give a crap about this. Our focus is on tomorrow then Tuesday, the worst punishment they could have is to lose a 3 goal advantage only to find both Yankee candle and wax lyrical have closed down in Liverpool city centre.
People in Europe remember well the fear and damage English teams coming to town threatened in past decades, and these lot were paramount in that. Anyone thinking total ban or expulsion is a long way off, but these actions have no doubt reminded many in Europe of the potential aggression levels which can be reached in the name of passion from English fans in their competitions, more so some than others.
So all in all, I expect a fine, possibly a match behind closed doors, and a warning that a repeat could mean expulsion. I'd also hope for an admission from Liverpool FC and merseryside police that they got it very wrong.
The only way it would be 'right' though in my eyes is if we smash them next week. So fire up the lads Pep, and a week from now they'll be fighting amongst themselves about how it went wrong whilst wondering how many people at UEFA remember the 80s.