The DA to that though AMS is should a team get a place simply because of the perception and should the Champs League be closed to the bigger pull names regardless.
If City and Liverpool (or others) suddenly get a really bad injury crisis and lost 6 key players, should they get a bye if they didn't get over the line?
If UEFA's charge is right, City cheated. Pure and simple and despite all the workarounds that could've been used, they just stuck two fingers up.
Question is, if they breached UEFA's FFP remit - where do they stand with ours?