Manchester City and the rest of the Premier League are awaiting the verdict on their case against 115 charges relating to financial irregularities.
Reports suggested a decision was imminent, but there is no indication that the verdict will be delivered this week now.
City's hearing in the case against the Premier League ran from September 16 to December 6 and was held in front of a three-person independent commission at the International Dispute Resolution Centre in London.
A final decision was always expected to take several months because of the volume of charges and information involved. However, earlier this year, City boss Pep Guardiola suggested that a final verdict would be reached in March.
There is still time for that prediction to come true, of course, but everyone connected with football in the top flight has been left wondering what the sanctions could be if City are found guilty.
The charges against City relate to failure to provide accurate and up-to-date financial information; failure to provide accurate financial reports for payer and manager compensation; failure to comply with UEFA's regulations; breaching Premier League Profit and Sustainability regulations; and failure to co-operate with Premier League investigations.
Sanctions ranging from relegation from the Premier League, huge fines and massive points deductions have been mooted by plenty of financial experts and those supposedly in the know.
City's spending in the January transfer window, as well as Guardiola and star striker Erling Haaland penning new contracts to remain with the club, hinted that they were not expecting the worst when it came to the decision.
But what if the worst was to happen? Or, not quite the worst, but close to it.
The worst would obviously be immediate relegation, something many financial experts have claimed there is little chance of happening.
Away from that, a points deduction would be the worst possible scenario for City, although it could be an outcome the club accept - but only on two conditions.
The first would be that the points deduction is not too severe. Everton had a 10-point deduction reduced to six for financial irregularities, but City's 115 charges are far more extensive than those of the Toffees.
A much bigger punishment would be required if found guilty, perhaps 30 points. In some quarters, anywhere up to 60 points has been suggested, which would be catastrophic for City.
If it were to be 30 points, however, they may well think about accepting, on the second condition - that it comes into force immediately.
The 2024/25 season has not been a good one on the pitch for Guardiola's side, with City currently fifth in the Premier League and at risk of not qualifying for the Champions League.
A 30-point deduction this year would see them drop to 17th place, outside the relegation zone and if they were struggling to finish in the Champions League places, taking a hit now, in a tough campaign, so they could start again next year at zero like everyone else, might not be the worst thing in the world.
The likelihood is, given everything that has gone on, that City will not receive a points deduction even if found guilty, but if they did, they might be well placed to accept it now and start over next year.