It's a case of double standards only in so far as it was the Conference who made the decision in our case and here their counterparts in the Football League. If you remember we appealed to the FA who merely said provided the Conference had followed their own rules and processes there was little they could do. Without raking over old coals the difference is Robinsongate featured a concerted effort made by at least 2 Conference clubs (one in Lancs, one in Gloucs) to ensure we suffered the maximum penalty. Remember there was not very subtle talk of those clubs taking the Conf to court if the rules were not followed to the letter. Not being an organisation flush with £ they had little room to manouevre.There's no mention of Gillingham's league rivals doing anything in the same vein.
Clearly the 'good of the game' would've been better served in our case by all Conference clubs inc the two mentioned, pointing out the arrangements relating to international clearance where opaque at best and any club could easily fall foul of them. It appears that particular issue still hasn't been properly addressed by FA administrative procedures. Still, experience of the problems it can cause might help when you put in your application for the top job.