Premier League fine Manchester City #2bn for rule breach

Manchester City have received a fine exceeding £1 million from the Premier League for repeatedly breaching rules regarding kick-off and match restart times during the 2024-25 season.

The club have accepted liability and apologised for nine specific violations of Premier League rule L.33. 

The penalty for each individual breach increased incrementally, cumulatively reaching £1.03 million.

The latest sanction follows a more substantial fine of over £2 million imposed on City last year for 22 similar infractions across the 2022-23 and 2023-24 campaigns. 

The Premier League emphasised that these regulations are crucial for maintaining the competition's professional standards, ensuring certainty for fans and participating clubs and keeping broadcast schedules accurate.

“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,” a league statement read.

“It also ensures the broadcast of every Premier League match is kept to schedule.”

The specific matches where delays occurred included home fixtures against Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, Nottingham Forest, Manchester United, West Ham United and Newcastle United, along with away games at Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and Ipswich Town. 

Notably, the home match against Manchester United in mid-December saw significant delays at both kick-off and the start of the second half. 

The Cityzens are required to pay the total fine to the Premier League within 14 days.

Man City face Al Ain and Juventus in their final group stage matches in the Club World Cup.