Dj Vnyash
Manchester City has been fined £2.09 million ($2.68 million, €2.48 million) by the Premier League for 22 instances of delaying the kick-off or restart of matches, as announced on Wednesday. The English champions have acknowledged the penalty, which pertains to rule violations over the past two seasons, according to the league.
This matter is separate from the 115 charges City faces for alleged violations of the Premier League’s financial regulations.
A Premier League statement revealed: “The Premier League and Manchester City FC have entered into a sanction agreement after the club accepted it had breached Premier League Rule L.33 regarding kick-off and restart obligations.”
The fines for these offenses have varied. The first violation, which was a delay of one minute and 18 seconds to the start of the second half against Crystal Palace in August 2022, resulted in a warning. Subsequent breaches incurred fines ranging from £10,000 to £200,000.
The longest delay recorded was two minutes and 46 seconds during the final game of last season against West Ham, where City secured a record fourth consecutive English title.
The statement further emphasized, “Rules regarding kick-offs and restarts help ensure that the organization of the competition meets the highest professional standards and provides certainty to fans and participating clubs. It also guarantees that all 380 League matches worldwide are broadcast on schedule.”
City has not directly commented but acknowledged the ruling, stating: “The club has apologized for the accepted breaches… and confirmed that it has reminded the club’s players and football management teams of their responsibilities in complying with Rule L.33.”
