Manchester City has been slapped with a £1.08 million fine by the Premier League for repeatedly delaying kick-offs and restarts during the 2024/25 season. The breaches occurred in nine separate matches, prompting the league to take action and enforce its rules regarding match punctuality.

The Premier League confirmed the sanction, stating that Manchester City acknowledged breaching Premier League Rule L.33, which pertains to kick-off and restart obligations. A formal sanction agreement between the league and the club has been published on the Premier League website, detailing the specific instances where the rules were violated.

The nine matches in question saw delays ranging from just over a minute to over two minutes. These delays occurred in home games against Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, Nottingham Forest, Manchester United, West Ham United, and Newcastle United, as well as away fixtures against Crystal Palace, Aston Villa, and Ipswich Town. The most significant delays were recorded during the restarts against West Ham United and Ipswich Town, each delayed by two minutes and 22 seconds. Other notable delays included a two minutes and ten seconds delay against Southampton and a one minute and 38 seconds delay against Tottenham Hotspur.

This isn't the first time Manchester City has faced penalties for similar offenses. The club was fined £2 million the previous year for 22 breaches of the kick-off and restart regulations. Following this latest fine, Manchester City has issued an apology and has reportedly reminded its players and staff of their responsibilities in adhering to the rules.

The Premier League has emphasized the importance of these rules, explaining that they "ensure the organisation of the competition is set at the highest possible professional standard and provides certainty to fans and participating clubs." Moreover, these rules are crucial for maintaining the broadcast schedule of every Premier League match.

While this fine addresses the specific issue of delayed kick-offs, it arrives as Manchester City awaits the outcome of a separate, more significant investigation. The club is currently facing 115 charges of alleged breaches of Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules, spanning from 2009 to the 2022-23 season. Manchester City has consistently denied any wrongdoing in relation to these FFP charges.

Despite the off-field issues, Manchester City continues to compete at the highest level. The team recently participated in the Club World Cup in the United States, showcasing their squad depth with a 2-0 victory over Wydad Casablanca, even with Pep Guardiola rotating the team and resting key players. However, they finished third in the Premier League last season, ending their four-year reign as champions, and also suffered a defeat against Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final.