The punishment should be a set formula that any owner will know prior to them breaking the rule. Same for everyone, and not requiring the expensive hearings, more a straightforward “you cheated, take the punishment”
So, without trying to be clever teams play for points...so it has to be a point penalty for a start.
Now, 12 points seems to be the figure handed about and generally thought harsh. Well I have a different solution which is very simple.
A time the point found guilty....ie the posting of the year figures which highlight the breach of rules, they look at the season to that point and take the number of wins so far, and remove the value of half of the wins they have had up to that point.
So say they’ve had 10 wins, they lose15 points. May seem harsh, but they are effectively being punished for having players they can’t affford, and that lead to a breach of FFP. So it seems only fair they aren’t allowed all of the points gained winning by cheating.
There’s more.....that side must immediately select a match squad to play the remainder of the season which complies with the rules. So they will have to drop several high earners and replace with cheaper players that in theory would be affordable. Wouldn’t take too long to figure out, might need an accountant sat with the manager picking the matchday squad, but that’s life.
So unless the cheating club has a very strong youth set up, they will likely be relegated anyway.
Much fairer.