Manchester City has been hit with a hefty £1.08 million fine by the Premier League for repeatedly delaying kick-offs and match restarts during the 2023-24 season. The club acknowledged the breaches and issued an apology, with the payment due within 14 days.
Last season, City faced delays in nine matches, with the most notable being a two-minute and 24-second delay before the second half of the Manchester derby in December 2024. This is not the first time the club has been penalized for such issues; they were fined £2.09 million the previous season for delaying 22 matches. Manager Pep Guardiola had previously vowed to shorten his team talks to avoid further delays.
The Premier League emphasized that rules regarding kick-offs and restarts are crucial for maintaining the competition's professional standards and ensuring consistency for fans and broadcasters. A statement from the league read, "These rules help ensure the organization of the competition is set at the highest possible professional standard and provide certainty to fans and participating clubs."
Despite the fines, Manchester City has shown improvement, reducing delays by 59% compared to the 2023-24 season. The club has pledged to continue addressing the issue to avoid future penalties.
This fine comes as City awaits a verdict on 115 charges of alleged financial rule breaches between 2009 and 2018. The club has strongly denied all allegations, claiming to have a "comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence" to support their case.
Guardiola and his staff have faced criticism for their tendency to overrun team talks, with some attributing the delays to their detailed pre-match preparations. However, the Premier League remains firm in its stance, underscoring the importance of adhering to scheduled timings for the benefit of broadcasters and fans alike.
For more updates on Manchester City and the latest in football news, stay tuned.
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