The Premier League must dish out Manchester City's punishment now, even while the appeal goes on, because the two are separate entities. The independent commission found City guilty, and City are appealing, but this sense of limbo cannot be allowed to linger even further.
After watching City's 3-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday, the feeling was one of being completely cheated by what was witnessed. City were superb, but in a few weeks it might mean absolutely nothing at all. Managers, players and pundits are leaning on the "appeal process" excuse as to why they cannot speak freely, but the club has already been found guilty.
Season at risk of being written off
A sense of direction and understanding is needed, otherwise the whole season might have to be written off. There is a very real situation where City have been found guilty but could easily go on to win the title. If the appeal fails, the question becomes whether the whole season should be scratched from the record books.
Fans pay a lot of money, invest a lot of emotion and expect to watch football when they go to Premier League games. At the moment, they are left with more questions than answers. This is not just about Liverpool 0 Manchester City 3; it is about Brighton's win at Sunderland and Crystal Palace beating Nottingham Forest, because they all play in the same league.
All 20 teams dragged into the issue
All 20 teams are being dragged into this. The team at the top could soon be relegated as a punishment for breaching Premier League spending rules across a nine-year period. City fans were defiant, and it is unfair on them, as it is on the City players, who played no part in this and so should not be punished.
City cannot be expected to surrender to give every other set of fans a sense of justice. City are the best team in the Premier League right now, and by some distance. Arsenal are in second place but look weaker in attack, having not addressed that in the transfer window. If this is allowed to drift, City will run away with it.
Integrity of the league damaged
The Premier League is a huge export for the country, a tourist attraction, and the overseas rights are a multi-billion pound industry. But this season is in serious danger of damaging the Premier League's integrity and reputation. The case dragged on for too long, nearly four years from City being charged to being found guilty, but the complexities of the case justify the delay.
Fans are getting angry because City supporters celebrated with their players after they won at Anfield. Erling Haaland cannot be blamed for celebrating in front of the City fans. Football has been left in limbo, and with every day which passes, the Premier League is becoming more and more damaged. If City get their punishment in a few weeks, they might not be as motivated if they are facing relegation on the back of a 100-point deduction, which would be unfair on Liverpool, who got walloped 3-0.
