Manchester City, the dominant force in English football for over a decade, finds itself once again under the Premier League's microscope. This time, however, the allegations are not about intricate financial dealings or sponsorship controversies, but something seemingly more mundane: breaches of kick-off timing regulations. Recent reports confirm that City has been hit with a substantial fine of £1.08 million for delaying kick-offs and re-starts on nine separate occasions during the 2024/25 season. While a million-pound fine might seem like a drop in the ocean for a club of City's financial might, these sanctions underscore a deeper tension within the Premier League – a battle between sporting integrity, commercial interests, and the relentless demands of a global broadcasting behemoth. This isn't merely a trivial matter of punctuality. It speaks to the meticulous choreography of modern football, where every second is accounted for, and every deviation from the schedule has...
Gareth Southgate claims that England fans' booing and jeering of him is "causing an issue" for his players, who he adds will need their backing at Euro 2024.
"I understand it," Southgate said in his post-match press conference. "I won't back down from it. The most essential thing is that supporters stick with the team.
"I understand the narrative toward me, which is better for the squad than it is toward them. However, it creates an odd operating environment. I have never seen another squad qualify and obtain similar results.
"I understand it, I'm not going to back away from it, but I'm very proud of the players for how they're operating within it."
Southgate told BBC Radio 5live that he could accept the criticism, but he hopes the fans will rally behind England's players in the round of 16 and maybe beyond.
"They (fans) were brilliant, in the second half especially there was a constant noise around the team," according to him. "I understand that people are dissatisfied with me; that is the fact, and I will not back down from that. I need them to support the squad.
"I need to deal with what I'm dealing with. I was not going to back down from walking over to thank everyone for coming and providing the support they provided, but I understand that this is causing problems for the group.
"I can handle it, but I need them to support the players. The more fans are as they were in the second half, behind the squad, it is a huge boost for them, since we are operating in a very strange atmosphere."
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