Man City may boast the most surgical midfield in football, but their timing off the pitch? Less Swiss watch, more broken alarm clock. In an oddly recurring theme, Man City has been fined more than £1 million by the Premier League for delaying kickoffs and restarts nine times last season.
And yes, you read that correctly. Nine. That’s not a glitch—that’s a habit. The fine arrives just a year after they paid £2 million for the same “time-wasting artistry.” One could argue they’re more punctual with paying fines than starting matches.
Man City vs. The Clock: Who Wins?
The Premier League, stiff as ever in its pinstriped punctuality, was not amused. In a statement that read like a stern letter from your headmaster, the league stressed the importance of “professional standards” and keeping broadcast schedules tight. City, to their credit, accepted the fine and offered an apology with the sincerity of a cat knocked off a vase—remorseful but mostly confused about the fuss.
Man City’s Delay Parade: The List Nobody Wants to Top
Fines totaling £1.08 million were linked to games against Southampton, Spurs, Forest, United, West Ham, and Newcastle, among others. The worst delays? A curiously identical 2 minutes and 22 seconds versus both West Ham and Ipswich. Are they synchronizing their stalls now?
City Tries to Look Busy in Club World Cup
Meanwhile, Man City put on a clinical show in the Club World Cup, brushing aside Wydad Casablanca 2-0 with goals from Foden and Doku. Pep Guardiola even let his younger stars shine, including new £40M French import Rayan Cherki, who didn’t waste any time—unlike his employers last season.
Conclusion: Tick-Tock, City
Manchester City might conquer continents, but the Premier League wants them to conquer the art of punctuality. With 115 unrelated Financial Fair Play charges still hanging like a fog over the Etihad, the last thing they need is a reputation for bad timekeeping.
In the meantime, maybe someone should get them a giant hourglass. Or a referee who brings his own sundial.
