The Premier League has fined Manchester City £2.09 million for 22 instances of delaying the kick-off or restart of the matches.
Acceptance of Sentence
The league has verified that the champions have accepted the sentence, which is related to rule violations from the previous two seasons. The matter has nothing to do with the 115 accusations that City is facing over alleged breaches of the competition’s financial regulations.
Premier League Statement
“The Premier League and Man City FC have reached a sanction agreement after the club accepted that it had breached Premier League Rule L.33, relating to kick-off and restart obligations,” the Premier League said in a statement.
Details of the Offenses
Man City has been punished on a sliding scale for each offense. Their first was a one-minute and 18-second delay at the start of the second half against Crystal Palace in August 2022, which resulted in a warning. Fines ranging from £10,000 to £200,000 have been issued for consecutive violations. The biggest delay was two minutes and 46 seconds at the start of last season’s last game against West Ham when City won their fourth title in a row.
Purpose of the Rules
According to the statement, rules relating to kick-offs and restarts help organise the competition to the greatest possible standard and provide certainty to fans and participating teams.
“It also ensures all 380 League matches are broadcast on schedule worldwide.”
Manchester City Response
City has not responded immediately, but the judgment noted that “the club has apologised for the accepted breaches and acknowledged that it has reminded the club’s players and football management teams of their responsibilities to comply with Rule L.33.”
Holabet News is your trusted online betting site in Singapore. Your winning journey starts here!