Manchester City have been fined over £2 million for delaying Premier League kick-offs and restarts 22 times over the last two seasons.
The club admitted to breaching Premier League regulations by delaying either the kick-off or the second-half restart on multiple occasions without valid reasons.
In the 2022-23 season, City delayed restarts eight times and were fined £390,000. The following season, there were 14 breaches, resulting in fines totaling £1.7 million. During this period, the start of the second half was delayed 11 times and the initial kick-off four times.
Penalties ranged from warnings to a maximum fine of £200,000, which they incurred for the longest delay of two minutes and 46 seconds during their 3-1 win against West Ham on 19 May 2024, a match that clinched their fourth consecutive Premier League title.
Additionally, their 1-0 home win over Newcastle on 19 August 2023 saw delays in both the kick-off and the second-half restart. Twelve of the total breaches occurred during home matches over the two seasons.
The League said the club “has apologised for the accepted breaches and confirmed that it has reminded the players and football management teams of their responsibilities”.
“Rules relating to kick-offs and re-starts help ensure the organisation of the competition is set at the highest possible professional standard and provides certainty to fans and participating clubs,” the league said.
“It also ensures the broadcast of all 380 League matches around the world is kept to schedule.”
Later this year, a Premier League disciplinary commission is set to hear 115 charges against Manchester City for allegedly breaching financial regulations, with some accusations dating back to 2009.
Several of these charges pertain to payments made to City by sponsors associated with Abu Dhabi.
The club has consistently denied the allegations, asserting that they have a “body of irrefutable evidence” to support their case.