Premier League champions Manchester City have been fined over £2 million by the Premier League for multiple instances of delaying match kick-offs.
The fines relate to 22 separate charges across the past two seasons, with delays primarily occurring during second-half restarts.
The most significant delay occurred during the final game of the last term against West Ham, where the second-half kick-off was delayed by two minutes and 46 seconds.
This game was pivotal as City clinched their fourth consecutive title on that day. The fines range from £10,000 to £200,000, with the highest fine linked to the West Ham fixture.
Eighteen incidents pertained to delays in second-half restarts, with one additional delay occurring during the kick-off of a match against Newcastle United in August 2023.
The Premier League’s statement emphasized the importance of adhering to kick-off schedules to maintain the highest professional standards and ensure global broadcast schedules are met. City accepted the Premier League’s decision, which was confirmed by an independent panel.
“The breaches relate to several Premier League matches during the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons,” the Premier League statement read. “Rules relating to kick-offs and re-starts help ensure the organization of the competition is set at the highest possible professional standard and provides certainty to fans and participating clubs.”
In total, Pep Guardiola’s team caused delays amounting to 39 minutes and 52 seconds across 23 late kick-offs over 22 games. Significant delays included a two-minute and 33-second delay against Everton in December 2022 and a two-minute and 34-second delay against Newcastle in August 2023.
The club has apologized for the breaches and has reminded its players and football management teams of their responsibilities in complying with the rules. Payment of the fines is to be made within 14 days of the sanction’s execution.
Oreoluwa is an accountant and a brand writer with a flair for journalism.
