Manchester City seems to have financial troubles every single year and that has continued into the 2023-2024 offseason. Pep Guardiola has definitely had to have hoped they would leave their money troubles and speculative questions behind in the last Premier League campaign, but that is far from the truth. City have been fined more than $2 million by the Premier League for over 20 instances of a late kick-off. So, what does this mean for the club? Will they face any repercussions that can hamper their chances of another trophy this year?
Manchester City Fined More Than $2 Million
Manchester City can’t take their sweet time in the locker room anymore before the first whistle blows to start the game. Although players might think the world waits for them, the Premier League has had it with the late warnings and players who fail to make the pre-set time slot. Manchester City continuously pushed back the clock, making viewing difficult and the Premier League forced to delay the game.
In the past two seasons, Manchester City has been accused of numerous rule infringements, such as excess spending, transfer issues, and, now, late kick-offs or late restarts of matches. This issue is directly related to more than one hundred charges that Manchester City face for breaching financial rules in the English top tier of football.
The Premier League made a statement just this week, while the Olympics were happening simultaneously in Paris, that Manchester City owe dozens of millions of pounds to the league for the breach of rules. In a statement made by the Premier League on the issue it was said that:
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 relating to kick-off and restart obligations…Rules relating to kick-offs and restarts help ensure the organization of the competition is set at the highest possible professional standard and provides certainty to fans and participating clubs.
The fines range from less than $12,000 to as much as $220,000, ranging in severity and amount based on the specific breach. For example, if City was late by only a few minutes, it could be a low fine or a warning. However, multiple warnings, long wait times, or repeated issues in the same match can have a hefty fine.
Manchester City Next Year
But, will the City actually ‘pay’ for the issue? It remains to be seen. They have been charged with financial issues in the past, but they have yet to really pay the consequences. They continually purchase high-profile players with exorbitant price tags, since they know the repercussions of excess financial spending could come too late.
For example, if they spend more than $100 million on Jack Grealish, but they know that they will be able to sign him and he will help the club, they will do it. The lack of consequences has led Manchester City to do what they want, when they want.
And it seems to be working. They won another trophy last year and plan to do the same this season. They start the 2024 Premier League season on August 3rd against Chelsea, a London club who finished lower than everybody would have thought in the 2023 season. Then, they face off against their rivals, United, for the FA Community Shield Final the following weekend.
If Pep Guardiola has his way, he will get another trophy in the City trophy cabinet by the end of the season. With players like Haaland up front, Stones in the middle, Foden on the wing, and Ederson in goal, it seems as though his team is surely heading to another top-three finish.
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