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Manchester City have been fined £1.08 million by the Premier League for consistently failing to kick off or restart matches on time during the 2024-25 season. The club committed nine such breaches, with the longest delay occurring during the second half of the Manchester derby in December 2024. That restart was delayed by two minutes and 24 seconds.
The Premier League confirmed that Manchester City accepted the charges and issued an apology. The club has been given 14 days to pay the fine. This is not the first time City have been sanctioned for similar behavior. In the previous season, they were fined £2.09 million for delaying 22 matches. At that time, manager Pep Guardiola acknowledged the issue and said he would try to shorten his team talks.
According to a statement from the Premier League, rules governing kick-offs and restarts are essential for maintaining the professionalism of the competition and providing consistency for fans and clubs. These rules also ensure that televised matches remain on schedule, which is crucial given the significant investment broadcasters make in securing rights to air games.
Manchester City are also currently awaiting the outcome of 115 charges related to alleged breaches of the Premier League's financial regulations. These charges cover a period from 2009 to 2018 and were referred to an independent commission in February 2023 after a four-year investigation. The club has strongly denied any wrongdoing and claims to have a comprehensive body of evidence in its defense.
BBC Sport's Shamoon Hafez noted that City have made efforts to reduce delays this season. The number of incidents has dropped by 59 percent compared to the previous season. The club maintains that last season was especially challenging, and Guardiola likely needed additional time during team talks due to the pressure of competing in multiple tournaments. However, despite the reduction in delays, the Premier League expects clubs to meet their responsibilities moving forward.
Simon Stone of BBC Sport emphasized that broadcasters rely on accurate scheduling as part of their multi-billion-pound agreements. While player injuries can disrupt timing, kick-offs and halftime restarts remain within a team's control. Although some may see City's breaches as the result of intense preparation, others view it as disregard for regulations.
