In a situation Manchester City are not delighted to be in, they have at least so far been given what they wanted at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
The Premier League side's landmark court battle with UEFA has been confirmed for the second week of June, a three-day hearing squeezed into the schedule starting on June 8.
It remains to be seen whether they will be successful in their attempt to have a two-year ban thrown out - such a decision would not say a lot for the original decision of football's governing body - but the club have maintained confidence throughout the process that an independent review will clear their name.
At the very least, the June date will be welcomed at the Etihad.
From the moment the Football Leaks stories broke and an investigation was launched, manager Pep Guardiola stated his hope for a decision to be reached as soon as possible. Innocent until proven guilty doesn't often work in the public spotlight, nor the football world of fake news where legitimate decisions are regularly questioned by managers or pundits if it goes against what they think is the truth.
"I am also looking for the end of this process maybe to put an pen under this undertone that we are hearing all the time that anything that we do, any result that we get is based only on money and not on talent and effort," said CEO Ferran Soriano in explaining City's decision to appeal.