Aston Villa vs. the Premier League. A Brief History.

In May 2024, Villa finish 4th in the Premier League and qualify for the Champions League against all expectation.

In the Summer of 2024, the Premier League refused to allow Villa to recognise guaranteed Champions League income early, OR to extend the accounting period by one day for new European entrants, meaning Villa are forced to sell Douglas Luiz as a reward for qualifying for Europe.

In April 2025, Villa requests that the Premier League move fixtures to allow Villa an additional day of preparation for the Champions League tie with PSG. The Premier League point-blank refuses.

In April 2025, the Premier League forces Villa to play Liverpool to aid the league leaders’ fixture congestion, whilst forcing Villa to play 5 games in 13 days - a schedule deemed unfair by the Premier League for Liverpool.

In May 2025, the Premier League insists Villa’s home match with Tottenham is moved from Sunday to the previous Wednesday or Thursday, debilitating Villa’s break between fixtures even more before refusing to countenance retaining Sunday as match day and insisting the game proceeds, to Villa’s detriment, on the Friday night.

In May 2025, PGMOL referee Thomas Bramall is appointed referee for Villa’s season-defining game at Manchester United despite Bramall being the second least experienced referee on the circuit. Bramall proceeds to incorrectly disallow a Villa goal before failing to follow refereeing protocol, causing Villa to miss out on Champions League football on goal difference and taking an estimated €80 million hit.

In June 2025, UEFA charges Villa with non-compliance with the football earnings rule. UEFA notes concern about “transactions involving the exchange of players”. Villa are fined €20m, €5m unconditionally, and placed on a 3-year plan effective immediately, requiring a deficit no greater than €5m in 2025-26 and €0m in successive seasons thereafter.

In June 2025, UEFA charges Chelsea with non-compliance with the football earnings rule. UEFA also notes concern about “transactions involving the exchange of players”, “sale of tangible or intangible assets” and “transfers of players between related parties”. Chelsea also reports a subsequent and ongoing deficit. Chelsea are fined €80m, €20m unconditionally, and placed on a 4-year plan based upon a business plan that allows Chelsea to remain in deficit for 2025-26 before being required to have a balance of €0m in the following seasons.

In August 2025, PGMOL referee Thomas Bramall is rewarded with the opening game of the 2025-26 season between Liverpool and AFC Bournemouth.

In August 2025, the Premier League fined Villa £125,000 for breaching multiball rules in five matches in 2024-25. Villa are also prohibited from operating the multiball system in its first three home league matches of 2025-26. The Premier League accuse Aston Villa’s ball boys of acting “deliberately and under instruction... with no other reason than to attempt to affect passages of play for the benefit of the Club.”

Imagine where we'd be with a bit of support.