APAT clearly cannot re-enter the two players or challenge network rules that they agreed too (and we all agreed too by playing). They are bound by network rules and have to take action here as the rules were clearly broken, yes we have all done it and it is not fair. Sucks, but it"s the way it is, APAT need to protect their license and if they don"t take action there is nothing to stop the BOSS Network banning the players (although the normal process would be to suspend their accounts until they explain the purposes of the play in most cases).
Problem is precedence has now been set and this is no longer a hypothetical scenario. For me APAT have done the right thing in a really tough spot (horrible decision to have to make but the right one for all concerned, in the best interest of all, including the DQ"d players), but now they need to make it very clear that soft play in these things is NOT permitted and if it is picked up in any form players receive a warning and may be disqualified if repeated examples occur. It should not really happen the first time as mistakes do happen.
If this was a much bigger event with say a WSOP Main Event seat on the line (and who"s knows what will happen in the future) I think players would be a lot less happy to just accept this decision and as Curly said we could be on shaky ground as the rules have not been fairly applied to all and to be honest APAT are and have been aware of this, this needs to be corrected.