Manchester City has been fined £2.09 million for consistently delaying both the start of matches and half-time restarts. The club admitted to breaching Premier League rules 22 times “without good reason.”
The Premier League stated that City had “apologised for the accepted breaches” and reiterated the importance of adhering to scheduled kick-offs for maintaining professional standards in the competition and ensuring that broadcasts remain timely for fans and participating clubs.
In the 2022-23 season, City delayed restarts eight times and were fined £390,000. In the current 2023-24 season, they have recorded 14 breaches resulting in fines of £1.7 million, with 11 of those related to second-half delays and four to the start of matches.
The punishments ranged from a warning for the first violation during their match against Crystal Palace on August 27, 2022, to the largest sanction of £200,000 for a significant delay of two minutes and 46 seconds during their 3-1 victory over West Ham on May 19, 2024, which ultimately secured their fourth consecutive Premier League title.
Notably, in their 1-0 home win against Newcastle on August 19, 2023, City experienced delays for both kick-off and restart, and 12 of the breaches occurred during home matches.
In March 2023, the Premier League’s independent disciplinary commission fined Crystal Palace £220,000, £70,000 of which was suspended, for causing delays in two games in October 2022.
Additionally, a Premier League disciplinary commission is set to hear 115 charges against Manchester City later this year, relating to alleged breaches of financial regulations dating back to 2009. Some of these charges involve payments from sponsors associated with Abu Dhabi. The club has consistently denied the charges, asserting they are backed by a “body of irrefutable evidence.”
Analysis
BBC Sport’s chief football news reporter Simon Stone commented that while the fines may seem excessive for seemingly minor offenses, the significance of kick-off times is crucial in the global broadcasting landscape. The Premier League is aware that disrupted schedules could ultimately affect revenue.
Stone noted that City’s initial warning and subsequent £10,000 fine suggested the league expected a quick resolution, but failure to comply resulted in escalating fines.
Although City has not contested the penalties, Stone speculated whether there might be a discussion about the issue with manager Pep Guardiola, considering his renowned attention to detail—a quality that could come at a cost.
Credit: BBC Sport
