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...
Deal anticipated to accelerate following Sporting Lisbon's match against Estrela da Amadora on Friday.
Following Erik ten Hag's dismissal on Monday, the 39-year-old has emerged as the leading candidate to take over in the Old Trafford dugout.
Sporting have confirmed United's interest in paying Amorim's £8.3 million release clause, and the club will apparently let the highly-rated youth coach to depart during the November international break.
Talks are ongoing, but the move is generally anticipated to go ahead as the Red Devils seek their sixth full-time manager since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement in 2013.
Speaking ahead of his Friday night match, Amorim stated, "It's a discussion between two clubs. It is never simple, even with the [release] conditions. They need to talk.
"We will get explanation after the game [on Friday], which will be clear. So there's one more day, and we'll make a choice after the game tomorrow.
United have appointed club veteran Ruud van Nistelrooy as interim manager of the first team, following the legendary Netherlands striker's 5-2 Carabao Cup victory over Leicester on Wednesday night.
Van Nistelrooy is anticipated to remain in command until Amorim arrives, which means he will almost certainly oversee Sunday's big Premier League game against Chelsea.
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