Milan Accumulates €132,000 in Fines for Match Delays in Serie A

The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has announced that AC Milan has accumulated a total of €132,000 in financial penalties since the start of the current season. These fines have been imposed due to the team's repeated delays in entering the field of play for the start of matches or the second half.

The most recent incident occurred during their match against Napoli, where Milan was fined €25,000. This penalty was issued after the team delayed the start of the match by two minutes and the second half by three minutes.

Reports attribute this recurring phenomenon within the team to a combination of technical and psychological factors. These include extended periods for technical analysis and last-minute preparations in the dressing room, in addition to the potential influence of superstitions or psychological tactics.

This pattern of delays has been associated with players such as Mike Maignan and Adrien Rabiot. It is also linked to coach Max Allegri's philosophy, known as "Halma," which emphasizes calm and deliberation before engaging in competitive environments.

Reacting to this behavior, Roma player Gianluca Mancini stated: "Either a fine is imposed, or they start the match a goal down, we decide that."

Mancini's remarks highlight the ongoing debate surrounding these frequent delays in Italian football. Milan significantly tops the list of clubs most affected by these penalties, with Como ranking second with total fines reaching €21,000, followed by Napoli and Udinese, each with €8,000.

The funds collected by Serie A from these fines are allocated to support social causes. AC Milan, however, operates an internal disciplinary system for its players, where these funds are sometimes used to finance team dinners aimed at strengthening bonds among squad members, such as the lavish banquet held at the Hotel Gallia in Milan.