July 31st 2024.
The Premier League has recently announced that they have imposed a fine on the reigning champions, Manchester City. The club has been ordered to pay just over £2 million for breaching kick-off and re-start rules a staggering 22 times over the past two seasons. It's a hefty price to pay for not adhering to the regulations set by the league.
In response to the penalty, Manchester City has accepted the fine and issued an apology to the Premier League. They have also reminded their players and management of their responsibilities, emphasizing the importance of following the rules and regulations set by the league. According to Rule L.33, clubs can be disciplined if they cause any delays to the start of a match or the re-start after halftime, unless they have a valid reason.
Upon investigation, it was found that Manchester City was guilty of such offenses 22 times over the course of the last two seasons. The longest delay was recorded during the final game of the 2023-24 season, with the match starting two minutes and 46 seconds late. In total, the club has delayed restarts by a total of 39 minutes and 52 seconds. This is not the only investigation that Manchester City is currently facing, as they are also under scrutiny for 115 charges of alleged breaches of financial regulations.
In a statement released by the Premier League, it was stated that an agreement has been reached between the Premier League and Manchester City after the club accepted that they had breached Rule L.33. The breaches occurred during various Premier League matches in the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons. Manchester City has accepted the final decision and has apologized to the Premier League.
The list of games that led to the fine includes matches against Crystal Palace, Brighton, Leeds, Everton, Leicester, Chelsea, Burnley, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Sheffield United, Tottenham, and West Ham. These games occurred between August 2022 and May 2024. It's a long list and shows a pattern of the club not complying with the kick-off and re-start regulations.
The Premier League has emphasized the importance of adhering to these rules, as they ensure that the competition is organized to the highest professional standard. It also provides certainty to fans and participating clubs. Additionally, these rules help to keep the broadcast of all 380 League matches on schedule, which is crucial for the league's global audience.
The sanction agreement was ratified by three members of the Independent Judicial Panel, as required by the Premier League Rules. Manchester City, who won the Premier League for the fourth consecutive year last season, will now have to pay the fine and focus on their upcoming matches. They are set to face Manchester United in the Community Shield final on August 10 and then kick-start their title defense against Chelsea the following weekend. It's a tough start to the season, but Manchester City will have to put this incident behind them and focus on maintaining their dominance in the league.
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