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Manchester City have been handed a fine exceeding £1 million by the Premier League for delaying kickoffs in nine separate matches during last season.
The Premier League revealed on Thursday that Pep Guardiola’s team breached regulations regarding the timing of kickoffs and restarts between October and February.
The longest recorded delay was two minutes and 24 seconds, which occurred just before the second half of the Manchester derby at Old Trafford in December.
City have accepted responsibility for the rule infringements and issued an apology, with the total fines amounting to £1.08 million (approximately $1.45 million).
A Premier League spokesperson said, “Rules concerning kick-offs and restarts are crucial to maintaining the competition’s professionalism and providing certainty to fans and clubs alike. They also ensure matches stay on schedule for broadcast purposes.”
This is not the first time City have faced penalties for late starts. Last year, the club was fined over £2 million for 22 similar violations of kickoff and restart protocols.
In the previous season, Guardiola’s side finished third in the Premier League, ending their four-year streak as champions. They also suffered an unexpected loss to Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final.
Currently, Manchester City are competing in the Club World Cup held in the United States.
