The legal processes are never-ending. We've moved to the accelerated footing where continuous litigation replaces the vision of durably settling the regulatory questions.
It's evident that most of the time (as in this case) you've got City on one side, with varying allies depending on whether the issue at hand is arbitrary or corrupt financial doping, assessments of "right and proper" ownership, or multi-club structures. City have been on the wrong side of all three issues (there are and will be others).
As with FFP and PSR, the incentives for the leagues and FAs aren't to pursue harsh retrospective punishments, nor protect the dignity of the sport, but to protect the shared interests of club owners and investors, and league officials and satellites. Any aspiration to keep football entertaining and competitive is a fortunate side effect, but on the bright side, the regulations are actually getting stronger.
I reckon the league has already half-decided on its rebuke to City on the 115 charges behind the scenes and that's part of the reason they're off the rails.
Based on the reaction it's probably something like a 10 point penalty being talked about, making their season a dead rubber. Their busy winter window and Pep's mid season contract extension might also suggest an upcoming transfer ban.
