Why were Manchester City fined $2 million by the Premier League?

The Premier League has fined Manchester City slightly more than £2 million for breaking the regulations of kickoff and halftime restarts. Over the past two seasons, there have been 22 distinct breaches; eight occurred during the 2022–2023 campaign, and 14 during the previous season.

City has expressed regret for the infractions and promised to reimburse the Premier League the £2.09 million punishment. The football management personnel and players have been reminded of their obligations, as acknowledged by the club. The matter has nothing to do with the 115 accusations that City is dealing with over purported violations of the competition's financial rules.

The Premier League released a statement mentioning the fines imposed on Manchester City. It read, “The Premier League and Manchester City FC have entered into a sanction agreement after the club accepted it had breached Premier League Rule L.33 relating to kick-off and re-start obligations.

The statement added by saying that, "The breaches relate to a number of Premier League matches during the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons. 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 statement concluded by saying that, "It also ensures the broadcast of all 380 League matches around the world is kept to schedule. As required by the Premier League Rules, the sanction agreement has been ratified by three members of the Independent Judicial Panel."

When did Manchester City have a delayed start of the game?

It was discovered that during 23 late kick-offs spread over 22 games during the previous two seasons, they had a cumulative restart delay of 39 minutes and 52 seconds. Their first, versus Crystal Palace in August 2022, resulted in a warning after they delayed the start of the second half by one minute and eighteen seconds.

Subsequent breaches have since been subject to fines that range from £10,000 to £200,000. When City won the league for the fourth time in a row at the end of the season versus West Ham United last year, there was the longest wait, which lasted two minutes and forty-six seconds.