Manchester City Slammed with €1 Million Fine Over Repeated Delayed Kick-offs

The Premier League has fined Manchester City £1.08 million (approximately €1 million) after the club admitted to multiple breaches of match timing regulations, including delayed kick-offs and second-half restarts.

According to a statement released on Thursday, Manchester City violated Rule L.33 of the Premier League Handbook on nine separate occasions between October 2024 and February 2025.

The rule requires clubs to ensure that matches start on time and that second halves resume promptly after the interval.

The most notable incident cited was during the Manchester derby at Old Trafford, where the second-half restart was delayed by two minutes and 24 seconds. Other delays were recorded in games against Tottenham Hotspur, Southampton, Nottingham Forest, West Ham United, Ipswich Town, and Newcastle United.

In accepting responsibility, the club issued a formal apology and agreed to pay the full fine within 14 days.

The Premier League emphasized the importance of adhering to scheduled kick-off times, especially given the league’s global audience and broadcasting commitments.

This is not the first time Manchester City have been penalised for breaches of this nature.

Last year, the club was fined just over £2 million for 22 similar timing violations across two previous seasons.

The latest sanction comes amid ongoing scrutiny of the club’s operations, including an unresolved investigation involving more than 100 alleged breaches of financial regulations.

While the club continues to contest those charges, the timing fine was settled without challenge.

City have not commented further beyond their initial admission, and the Premier League has confirmed that no appeal is expected.