Manchester City has been hit with a substantial fine of more than £2 million ($2.56 million) by the Premier League for violations related to delayed kickoffs and restarts. The league confirmed the penalty on Wednesday, following a settlement agreement reached over 22 separate charges.
Details of the Fine
The Premier League’s report highlights that Manchester City breached regulations on both kickoff times and returns from halftime. The delays ranged from one minute to nearly three minutes. Out of these instances, eight occurred during the 2022-23 season and 14 during the 2023-24 campaign. The most notable delay happened during the 2023-24 season finale against West Ham United, a critical match where City needed a win to secure the Premier League title.
Premier League’s Statement
In its statement, the Premier League emphasized the importance of adhering to kickoff and restart regulations.
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. It also ensures the broadcast of all 380 League matches around the world is kept to schedule.
Manchester City now faces the challenge of ensuring compliance with these regulations moving forward to avoid further penalties.
