Manchester City has been fined by the Premier League more than one million pounds for delaying the start or restart of nine matches during last season. The violations, recorded between October and February, included a maximum delay of two minutes and 24 seconds during the Manchester derby in December. The club has accepted the sanctions, issued an apology, and has 14 days to make the payment of £1.08 million.
The English league justified the decision by stating that the rules on timing ensure professionalism, organization, and reliability for both clubs and fans as well as television broadcasts. This is not the first time City has breached such rules: last summer it was fined over two million pounds for 22 similar violations. While facing these penalties, the club is also participating in the revamped FIFA Club World Cup, a tournament its CEO, Ferran Soriano, sees as key to the club’s international projection.
Between sanctions and global ambition
Despite the disciplinary context in the Premier League, City started its Club World Cup campaign on a high note, defeating Morocco’s Wydad 2-0 in Philadelphia with goals from Phil Foden and Jérémy Doku. In that match, Pep Guardiola gave minutes to two of his newest signings: Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki, part of the eight reinforcements added over the last two transfer windows. Soriano, meanwhile, highlighted the club’s enthusiasm for the new 32-team format, calling it “a great initiative to globalize football.”
For the Spanish executive, City can be both a global club and a team rooted in its local history and fanbase. He explained that the squad renewal is part of a long-term plan to maintain institutional and sporting stability. “The fact that Pep will be with us for 10 years shows that we are a stable club,” said Soriano, who also emphasized the presence of long-standing figures like Kevin De Bruyne as a symbol of continuity. Amid domestic penalties and international challenges, City is looking to reaffirm its position as one of the world’s most influential football clubs.
