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Manchester City slapped with £1m fine over delayed kick-offs and restarts

The Premier League has fined Manchester City more than £1 million over delayed kick-offs and restarts (h/t the Guardian).

The club has reached a sanction agreement with the league over rule breaches that occurred during nine matches between October and February. 

The longest delay of two minutes and 24 seconds occurred before the resumption of the Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium in December. 

The league’s statement read: “Rules relating to kick-offs and restarts help ensure the organisation of the competition is set at the highest possible professional standard.

“They provide certainty to fans and participating clubs. It also ensures the broadcast of every Premier League match is kept to schedule.”

The club were fined £2m last summer for 22 breaches of the same rules.

They were also charged with breaking financial rules on 115 occasions in February 2023, with those subsequently increasing to 130. 

They have vehemently denied any wrongdoing, and a verdict is expected to be revealed in 2025.  

Despite the charges, City have been active in the transfer market. 

They spent around £180m to sign Nico Gonzalez, Abdukodir Khusanov, Vitor Reis and Omar Marmoush in January. 

It is still early days in the summer transfer window, but City have already acquired Rayan Ait-Nouri, Marcus Bettinelli, Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders. 

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