Manchester City fined £1m for breaking game-delay rules
- Manchester City has received a fine exceeding £1 million from the Premier League for multiple breaches of rules regarding delayed kick-offs and restarts during the previous season.
- This recent penalty follows a previous fine of £2 million for the same violations last year.
- The club has apologized for its actions and reinforced the importance of compliance with league rules, amidst their ongoing case concerning 115 additional charges linked to FFP regulations.
In England, Manchester City has faced significant penalties for breaching rules concerning delayed kick-offs and restarts during the previous season. Recently, the Premier League announced that the club has been fined more than £1 million for committing these infractions nine times. This fine comes on the heels of a similar incident where City had to pay £2 million a year prior for the same violation regarding game delays. The league has emphasized the importance of adhering to rules around game timings for maintaining professional standards and ensuring a smooth viewing experience for fans. The fines imposed relate to both home and away matches played against multiple clubs, including Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, Nottingham Forest, Manchester United, and others. The longest recorded delays occurred against West Ham and Ipswich Town, both instances causing a restart delay of two minutes and 22 seconds. Additionally, it is worth noting that Manchester City is currently involved in an ongoing situation where they are waiting for the verdict on 115 unrelated charges linked to alleged breaches of Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations. These charges date back to 2009 and extend to the recent 2022-23 season, with the club maintaining a staunch denial of any wrongdoing pertaining to these serious allegations. Over the years, Manchester City has faced numerous challenges regarding compliance with league regulations, and this latest fine emphasizes the necessity for clubs to abide by established rules that govern the sport. The club has publicly acknowledged the fines and expressed remorse for their conduct, highlighting their commitment to ensuring adherence to league rules moving forward. This incident, along with the pending FFP charges, raises ongoing concerns about the financial practices and governance within elite football, fundamentally questioning the integrity and operational standards of clubs within the Premier League.