Man City Fined £1m For Repeated Kick-Off Rule Breaches

Manchester City have been hit with a fine of approximately £1 million after accepting punishment for breaching a Premier League regulation on nine separate occasions during the 2024/25 season.

The reigning Club World Cup contenders, who finished third in the Premier League this past season and saw their four-year title streak come to an end, have been sanctioned under Rule L.33, which requires clubs to start matches and second halves on time. Failure to comply results in fines that increase with each offense.

City were fined £40,000 for their first breach, escalating to £190,000 for the ninth. The cumulative total for all nine incidents adds up to around £1 million.

In a statement, the Premier League said:
“The Premier League and Manchester City FC have entered into a sanction agreement after the club accepted it had breached Premier League Rule L.33 in relation to kick-off and re-start obligations. The breaches occurred in nine Premier League matches during the 2024/25 season.”

The league explained that the rule is vital to maintaining professional standards and ensuring the smooth scheduling of matches, especially for broadcasters and fans.

One of the breaches occurred during City’s 2-1 home defeat to Manchester United in the derby last December. The club has since issued an apology and reminded players and staff of the need to strictly observe match timings.

This is not the first time City have been fined for lateness. In the 2023/24 season, they were hit with a £2.09 million penalty for 22 separate violations of the same rule, which were said to be committed “without good reason.”

In the background, City are still facing 130 charges for alleged breaches of Financial Fair Play regulations—a separate, high-profile case that continues to hang over the club.