moving the goal posts? lol

It's a bit like two top boxers/mma fighters/football teams/whatever battling. The kingdoms involved and even others watching don't want the results to be determined by which kingdom got thieved the most by a third party before the fight. It's like if a football team got roughed up on their way to the match and then couldn't compete properly and therefore the game was ruined. Although it is apparently fun for the ones doing the robbing, it ruins the fun for all those wanting to see a "fair" fight between the top kingdoms.
My argument was that whoever is on the winning side of the issue doesn't care because winning is winning in utopia. The rest of the analogy is fine. The 'audience' is disappointed and the recipient is clearly angry and will be seeking revenge, but the athletes who benefited from the "roughing up" lost something that they didn't lose in Utopia, because winning honorably is just as important as winning less-honorably.

edit:
example: bradley over pacquiao