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.
Since 2019-20 Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal have spent an average of €1.4bn on players.
Over the same period the remainder of the participants in the Premier League have averaged a total outlay of €537m.
One club, Chelsea, has a spend in excess of €2bn, four other clubs, Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have a spend in excess of €1bn.
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.”
In 2019, the Premier League investigate Manchester City for alleged breaches of financial rules.
In February 2020, UEFA rules that Manchester City are guilty of "serious breaches" of financial fair play rules between 2012 and 2016 and are given a €30m fine and two-year ban from European club competitions.
In the Summer of 2022 Chelsea spend €630m on players (€1.0bn since 2019-20), Manchester United €243m, Manchester City €155m, Liverpool €146m.
In October 2020, Manchester City overturn their two-year ban from European club competition and have their fine reduced to €10m despite being found guilty of serious breaches" of financial fair play rules between 2012 and 2016.
In February 2023, the Premier League charge Manchester City with 115 breaches.
In August 2023, no verdict has been issued for Manchester City's 115 breaches.
In the Summer of 2023 Chelsea spend €464m on players (€1.5bn since 2019-20), Manchester United €211m and Manchester City €260m, Arsenal €235m, Liverpool €172m.
In February 2024, no verdict has been issued for Manchester City's 115 breaches.
In April 2024, Chelsea sell their Stamford Bridge hotels to another company they own for £73.6m.
In July 2024, the Premier League fine Manchester City £2.09m for 22 instances of delaying kick off in the 2023-24 season.
In July 2024, Chelsea avoid PSR non compliance due to one off transactions.
In August 2024, no verdict has been issued for Manchester City's 115 breaches.
In the Summer of 2024 Chelsea spend €282m on players (€1.8bn since 2019-20), Manchester United €246m (€1.2bn) and Manchester City €243m (€1.1bn).
In September 2024, the Premier League clears Chelsea of any wrongdoing for the sale of their Stamford Bridge hotels to another company they own for £73.6m.
In February 2025, no verdict has been issued for Manchester City's 115 breaches.
In February 2025, Manchester City are reported to the European Commission for improper financing under the Foreign Subsidies Regulation
In March 2025, Chelsea sell their women's team to their parent company for £198.7m.
In June 2025, Chelsea play in the World Club Cup - a competition whose qualification criteria is based on performance in their respective club championships from 2021 to 2024. 2020-21 Chelsea 4th, Villa 11th, 2021-22 Chelsea 3rd, Villa 14th, 2022-23 Chelsea 12th, Villa 7th, 2023-24 Chelsea 6th, Villa 4th.
In July 2025, Chelsea avoid PSR non compliance due to one off transactions for the second successive year.
In July 2025, the Premier League fine Manchester City £1.08m for 9 instances of delaying kick off in the 2024-25 season.
In July 2025, against all expectations, Chelsea win the World Club Cup earning £84m.
In August 2025, no verdict has been issued for Manchester City's 115 breaches.
In the Summer of 2025 Liverpool spend €309m on players, Chelsea €288m to breach the €2bn mark since 2019-20, Manchester United €230m (€1.4bn), Arsenal €224m (€1.2bn) and Manchester City €177m (€1.3bn).