Manchester City Faces £2.09M Penalty

Manchester City have faced a £2.09 million fine from the Premier League for repeatedly being late for matches and after half-time. The club admitted they breached league rules 22 times “without good reason,” which resulted in this significant penalty. The Premier League noted that Manchester City apologized for these breaches. They also reminded the club’s players and football management teams of their responsibilities. The league stressed that adhering to kick-off and restart times maintains the competition’s professional standards.

It also ensures that the broadcast schedule for all 380 league matches stays on track. City experienced frequent delays during the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons. They delayed restarts eight times in the 2022-23 season, leading to a £390,000 fine. In the 2023-24 season, the club had 14 breaches, totaling £1.7 million in fines. The delays included 11 instances of starting the second half late and four instances of delaying the start of matches. The league imposed varying fines, beginning with a warning for a delay against Crystal Palace in August 2022.

The penalties increased to a £200,000 fine for a delay of two minutes and 46 seconds during their 3-1 win over West Ham on May 19, 2024. The delays also affected their 1-0 win over Newcastle on August 19, 2023, which featured both a delayed kick-off and restart. The club had 12 breaches in home matches. Previously, Crystal Palace had to pay a £220,000 fine with £70,000 suspended for causing delays in two October 2022 games. Later this year, Manchester City will face a Premier League disciplinary commission over 115 charges.

These charges relate to alleged breaches of financial regulations, some of which date back to 2009. The club has consistently denied these charges, claiming they are supported by “irrefutable evidence.” BBC Sport’s Simon Stone observed that while the fines might seem excessive for minor infractions, timely kick-off times are crucial for global broadcasts and revenue.

Despite initial warnings and smaller fines, the persistent delays led to escalating penalties. Stone suggested that Manchester City, known for their attention to detail under Pep Guardiola, might address the issue internally to prevent future fines.