Guardiola Adjusts Press Conference Time to Avoid Premier League Fine

Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, adjusted the timing of his press conference on Friday to prevent incurring another fine from the Premier League. Previously, Guardiola had scheduled his media sessions for 14:00, which fell outside the league’s requirement mandating that all clubs must begin their press conferences by 13:30 on Fridays. This regulation applies regardless of when their weekend matches are scheduled.

In the past, Manchester City received permission from the league to hold press conferences later before matches against Bournemouth and Liverpool. However, with training scheduled for midday on Friday, Guardiola wanted to maintain the 14:00 start time. After being informed of the potential consequences, he opted for an earlier time of 09:00 to avoid further penalties.

Arriving at the City Football Academy just before the press conference, Guardiola appeared relaxed and in good spirits. He quipped with reporters that the early timing was dictated by league rules and emphasized his desire to steer clear of fines. “We are training later and if we train at 12:00 until 13:30, I cannot be here (at the press conference) in time,” he explained. “The Premier League don’t allow me at 14:00. The club said if I don’t start by 14:00, they will fine me or fine the club.”

Manchester City is well aware of the Premier League’s strict enforcement of regulations. The club faced fines totaling £3.17 million over the past two seasons for late arrivals at matches and during halftime. Notably, in the 2023/24 season, they incurred a penalty of just over £2 million for delaying kick-offs on 22 occasions throughout their 38 matches. The previous season saw them fined just over £1 million for being late on nine occasions.

Most of these infractions stem from the team’s late return to the field after halftime. Guardiola humorously noted that during the 2023 Champions League final, a pre-game performance by artists Burna Boy and Anitta caused delays, which went unpunished. “We paid a lot of money as I’m late at halftime,” he remarked. “Sometimes I arrive one minute later, but the rules are the rules, and the Premier League is impeccable for that, right?”

He further jested about the situation, suggesting that if performers delay games, they too should face penalties. “When we played in the Champions League final, they had a show before the game and they are always late. They have to fine the singers!” Guardiola concluded.

Ultimately, his decision to hold the press conference at 09:00 allowed for a smoother day, giving journalists the chance to enjoy their breakfasts before the session began. The incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by clubs in adhering to strict league regulations while managing their schedules effectively.