Manchester City, the reigning champions of the English Premier League, have been fined £2.09 million for repeatedly breaching kick-off and restart regulations. The Premier League announced on July 31, 2024, that the club had committed 22 violations of the league’s rules over the past two seasons.
According to the Premier League’s statement, Manchester City acknowledged the breaches of Rule L.33, which governs the timing of kick-offs and restarts. The fines, which range from £10,000 to £200,000 per offense, are scaled according to the severity of each delay.
The infractions include a notable delay of one minute and 18 seconds in the second half of a match against Crystal Palace in August 2022, which initially resulted in a warning. The most significant delay occurred during the final game of the season against West Ham, where the kick-off was delayed by two minutes and 46 seconds.
The Premier League stated that these rules are crucial for maintaining professional standards and ensuring that all 380 league matches are broadcasted on schedule globally. Manchester City has issued an apology and reiterated its commitment to adhere to the league’s regulations moving forward.
It is important to note that this fine is unrelated to the 115 charges Manchester City is facing concerning alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial regulations.