Manchester City has been fined £2.09 million ($2.68 million, €2.48 million) by the Premier League for 22 instances of delaying the kick-off or restart of matches over the past two seasons. The English champions have accepted the penalty, which does not relate to the 115 charges the club faces for alleged breaches of financial regulations.
The Premier League confirmed the fine in a statement, noting that Manchester City had breached Premier League Rule L.33, which governs kick-off and restart obligations. The club has been fined on a sliding scale for each violation, with the first delay—one minute and 18 seconds at the start of the second half against Crystal Palace in August 2022—resulting in a warning. Subsequent fines ranged from £10,000 to £200,000 for each additional breach.
The most significant delay was two minutes and 46 seconds for the start of the final game of the season against West Ham, where City secured a record fourth consecutive Premier League title.
The Premier League statement emphasized the importance of adhering to rules related to kick-offs and restarts to maintain the professional standard of the competition and ensure the timely broadcast of all matches.
Manchester City has not issued a direct comment but has acknowledged the breaches and apologized. The club has reminded its players and management teams of their responsibilities under Rule L.33.