Manchester City have been found guilty of financial rule breaches, and rival club officials want the punishment settled before the title is decided.
Senior figures at English Premier League clubs want Manchester City's punishment for breaking the league's financial rules decided before the current season finishes, rather than dragged into another year of legal argument.
The Premier League announced on Tuesday that an independent commission had found City guilty of all charges linked to breaches of its financial regulations between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons. Among the findings was that the club artificially inflated its revenue by more than £900 million through sponsorship arrangements described as "sham" deals.
City have consistently denied wrongdoing and have indicated they will file an appeal by the end of this week.
Why the timing matters
It has already taken three years from the moment the charges were laid to reach this verdict, and there is concern across the league that an appeal could stretch the matter out even longer.
Club officials speaking to BBC Sport, whose reporting was carried by Adom Online, said they see no reason the case cannot be wrapped up before the campaign ends. One official, who spoke anonymously, said: "It benefits everyone for this to be resolved as quickly as possible." Asked whether it would be, the same official said the process still "has to be done right".
Another source said any appeal should be "compressed" so that the matter closes this season.
The worry is straightforward: if City finish the season unpunished and go on to win the title, the standings could be thrown into confusion later.
What the rules allow
The final decision on punishment sits with the independent commission. Both the Premier League board and Manchester City may propose what they consider an appropriate sanction before the panel rules.
League regulations say an appeal should be completed within 12 weeks of being filed, with a decision following within 30 days. Those timelines can be tightened when a deadline such as the end of a season is involved.
City chief executive Ferran Soriano has suggested the case will run for a long time. The club cannot take the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but could go to the High Court if it argues the process was not impartial.
In its statement confirming the verdicts, the Premier League said it wants the matter "concluded as soon as possible". It declined to comment further.
Etihad weighs legal action
Etihad Airways, the United Arab Emirates carrier that has been City's main sponsor since 2009, said on Wednesday it is considering legal action against the Premier League.
The airline said it "categorically rejects" any suggestion it was involved in improper commercial arrangements, and complained that selective leaks and the league's public handling of the findings had damaged its name even though it was not named in the redacted published decision. Etihad said it will seek legal advice on its options.
For Ghanaian fans following the Premier League at home or in the United States, the practical question is whether this season's table will still be standing when the dust settles.
