So what will City's punishment be reduced to after they've been to appeal?

[Burney]

A large fine and a suspended ban, that's what will happen. Or, to put it another way, no meaningful punishment at all.

The problem with a ban of this sort being enforced is that it could have a knock-on effect on domestic outcomes. Faced with a CL ban, there's nothing to stop City from playing weakened sides in the league and concentrating on other tournaments, thus affecting league placings.

[Pokster]

The problem with a ban of this sort being enforced is that it could have a knock-on effect on domestic outcomes. Faced with a CL ban, there's nothing to stop City from playing weakened sides in the league and concentrating on other tournaments, thus affecting league placings.

Their weakened team will still finish top 4, and until the appeal is heard they will want to finish top 4 to see if they do get in the CL next season

[Burney]

Their weakened team will still finish top 4, and until the appeal is heard they will want to finish top 4 to see if they do get in the CL next season

I was thinking more of next season if they did get a two-year ban, tbh. The point I'm making is simply that CL qualification is now so important that banning a team from it can have massive knock-on effects in domestic leagues and could even artificially skew outcomes.