Lets say they get a 12 month ban (after years of legal wrangling no doubt). The horse has already bolted. They pumped huge sums in at the start. If you had told the owners back then that you can get away with that, thus building what they need to be successful, and ultimately it would result in a 12 month ban from the CL then they would have taken it.
If they are found guilty of breaking the rules, somewhat brazenly, then 12 months is nothing.