Manchester City has recently been hit with a £1.08 million fine by the Premier League for repeated breaches of Rule L.33, which pertains to the timing of kick-offs and restarts. This penalty, announced on June 19, 2025, stems from nine separate incidents during the 2024/25 season where the club was late to commence matches or resume play after halftime. The breaches occurred between October and February, affecting nearly a quarter of their Premier League games.
The Premier League's Rule L.33 explicitly states that any club delaying a match's kick-off or a restart without a valid reason will face disciplinary action. In City's case, these delays ranged from a minute to over two minutes, with the most prolonged instance being a two-minute and 24-second delay before the second half of the Manchester derby at Old Trafford in December. Other matches affected included clashes against Southampton, West Ham United, and Ipswich Town, among others. Cumulatively, City delayed kick-offs and restarts by a total of 18 minutes and 53 seconds across the nine matches.
The Premier League emphasized the importance of adhering to the scheduled timings for kick-offs and restarts. According to the league, these rules are in place to ensure the competition maintains the highest professional standards, providing certainty for fans and participating clubs alike. Furthermore, punctuality is crucial for broadcasting schedules, ensuring that every Premier League match is aired as planned.
Manchester City has accepted the sanction and issued an apology for the breaches. The club has also reportedly reminded its players and staff of the need to be on time for all matches. They have 14 days from the execution of the sanction agreement to pay the fine. While a significant sum, the £1.08 million penalty is unlikely to have a substantial financial impact on a club of Manchester City's stature. However, the fine serves as a reminder of the importance of adhering to the league's regulations, regardless of a club's resources or status.
It's worth noting that this is not the first time Manchester City has faced penalties for similar offenses. The club was previously fined over £2 million for 22 breaches of the kick-off and restart rules across the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons. This latest fine suggests that the issue of late kick-offs and restarts has been a recurring problem for the club.
This fine is separate from the 115 charges Manchester City is currently facing for alleged breaches of the Premier League's financial regulations, which are far more serious and cover a period between 2009 and 2018. The outcome of these charges could have significant implications for the club, potentially including points deductions or even expulsion from the league if found guilty. The proceedings for these charges began in September and concluded in December, but a verdict is still pending. The current fine for delayed kick-offs, while noteworthy, pales in comparison to the potential ramifications of the FFP case.
