Man City 115 charges: Keith Wyness ‘very surprised’ by shock punishment
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness has claimed Man City being fined £2million for delaying kick-off times is not linked in any way to their 115 outstanding Premier League charges.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, the 66-year-old – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – insisted he was shocked it took so long for the top flight to clamp down on the English champions.
At the end of July Man City were fined £2.09million by the Premier League for 22 instances of delaying the kick-off or restart of matches.
Pep Guardiola’s side accepted breaches over the last two seasons – with the most severe violation leading to kick-off being delayed by as much as two minutes and 46 seconds.
City were charged by the Premier League 115 times last year (2023) and are set to find out their fate in an independent commission hearing later in 2024.
Wyness shocked as Man City hit with seven-figure kick-off fine
Wyness claimed governance in the top English division is “stretched to the limit” – a potential reason for delaying punishment for City’s kick-off breaches.
He told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: “It’s a bit strange and I was very surprised.
“I completely understand the reason for fining clubs who don’t keep to the kickoff times.
“There are broadcasters who have to be clear about the times, so I understand that.
“But to store all these offences up and then give £2million as a sanction is strange. There should’ve been a warning, a fine after five offences, a fine after 10.
“I don’t think it’s linked to the 115 charges situation. It’s completely separate and just an operational issue.
“I’m just surprised it has taken this long to get to issuing a punishment.
“Premier League governance is just being stretched to the limit.
“Some of these things leave more questions than answers in terms of their handling.”
In other news, the real reason for Julian Alvarez’s £82million City exit revealed.
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