Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has admitted his role in the £2.09 million fine imposed on the club by the Premier League for repeatedly delaying match kickoffs and second-half restarts.
The reigning champions committed 22 instances of delays, starting with a one-minute and 18-second delay against Crystal Palace in August 2022, which initially resulted in a warning. Continued breaches led to fines based on the length of the delays, with the longest being two minutes and 46 seconds against West Ham in the final game of the last season.
Ahead of Manchester City’s pre-season friendly against Chelsea, Guardiola acknowledged the issue, attributing the delays to his lengthy halftime team talks. He stated, “I just read it in the news. I would try to make my speeches at halftime shorter.”
This fine is separate from the 115 charges Manchester City faces for alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial regulations, which could result in severe penalties, including potential relegation.
