Manchester City's rivals are bracing for a financial penalty rather than a points deduction or relegation, according to reports.
TEAMtalk say they have spoken to a well-placed Premier League source, who has given an indication of what could happen if City fail with their appeal on the guilty verdict.
"This is clearly a huge story, and fans everywhere will be clamouring and maybe expecting relegation and huge points deductions, but from what we are hearing as a club, we are expecting a fine at this point. But we have to see how things play out."
The source's claim suggests a mood within at least one rival boardroom that the outcome will be financial rather than competitive. That would prove highly contentious. Other Premier League teams have been handed points deductions for far fewer breaches, and a fine for City would be hard for those clubs to swallow.
The process is not straightforward. City cannot take this case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, as they did with the UEFA matter a few years ago. An Appeals Board will be convened instead. Premier League rules give that board broad latitude: it can allow the appeal, dismiss it, or issue any order it considers appropriate.
Until the appeal is heard, business continues as normal. If the decision still favours the Premier League, the commission will then decide on the punishment. Clubs may be predicting a fine, but they are not the ones who will make the final call.
If a points deduction is chosen, it would apply to this season. The commission might prefer that route to expulsion from the top flight, given we are midway through the campaign. A heavy enough deduction would amount to relegation in any case.
For now, the club and its supporters are in the familiar position of waiting.