On Thursday, the Premier League fined Manchester City £1.08 million (US$1.45 million) for nine delayed kickoffs and restarts last season.
City was fined 2 million pounds ($2.56 million) by the league last year for violating game-delay rules. Before the December Manchester derby at Old Trafford, the longest delay was two minutes and 24 seconds.
The club apologized for the rule violations and said they reminded players and staff to follow the guidelines.
“Rules relating to kick-offs and re-starts help ensure the organisation of the competition is set at the highest possible professional standard and provides certainty to fans and participating clubs,” the league stated in a note.
“It also ensures the broadcast of every Premier League match is kept to schedule.”
The Premier League fined City for home games against Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, Nottingham Forest, Manchester United, West Ham United, and Newcastle United and away games against Crystal Palace, Aston Villa, and Ipswich Town.
City were third in the Premier League last season with 71 points, behind Arsenal with 74 and Liverpool with 84.
In the Club World Cup, City defeated Wydad AC in their first encounter after a shocking FA Cup final loss to Crystal Palace.
