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The Premier League has confirmed that Manchester City FC has been sanctioned following nine breaches of Rule L.33 during the 2024/25 season, which relates to delays in kick-offs and restarts of matches. The club has accepted responsibility for the breaches and entered into a formal Sanction Agreement with the league.
Premier League Rule L.33 states that clubs must not delay the start or restart of matches “without good reason,” as such delays can impact match organisation, fan experience, and broadcast schedules. The rule is part of the league’s wider commitment to uphold professional standards across all fixtures.
The breaches occurred across nine separate matches, starting in October 2024 and continuing into February 2025. The delays ranged from just over a minute to more than two minutes, both at kick-off and following half-time intervals.
Four of the earliest breaches were sanctioned immediately under Rule W.3.3, which allows the Premier League Board to impose disciplinary measures. These included fines of:
- £40,000 for a delay against Southampton on 26 October,
- £60,000 for a delayed kick-off against Tottenham on 23 November,
- £80,000 for a delay in the second half against Nottingham Forest on 4 December,
- and £100,000 for a similar issue away at Crystal Palace on 7 December.
For the five more recent breaches, Manchester City has agreed to a series of escalating fines as part of the Sanction Agreement:
- £125,000 for delays during the Manchester derby against United on 15 December,
- £125,000 for a re-start delay against Aston Villa on 21 December,
- £150,000 for a re-start delay against West Ham on 4 January,
- £210,000 for a late restart at Ipswich Town on 19 January,
- and £190,000 for the most recent delay against Newcastle United on 15 February.
In total, the club has incurred £1.08 million in fines related to these infractions.
In a statement included in the agreement, the Premier League confirmed that Manchester City had “accepted and apologised for the breaches” and that the club had “reminded the Club’s players and football management teams of their responsibilities in complying with Rule L.33.”
The club is expected to pay all outstanding fines within 14 days of the agreement’s execution.
While the nature of the infractions may seem minor in isolation, the Premier League emphasized the importance of maintaining strict adherence to its operational rules in order to protect the integrity and scheduling of the competition.
Featured Image Credit: Unsplash / Jonny Gios
