Aston Villa manager Unai Emery is known for never leaving anything to chance. To the point of going to the limit sometimes? The quarter-finalist of the last Champions League has just been fined £125,000 by the Premier League after admitting to five violations of the rules governing the multi-ball system during the 2024/25 season. This sanction primarily concerns the Birmingham club's deemed inappropriate use of ball boys. The latter were strategically positioned to facilitate a quick restart of the ball on the home side of the pitch. One match against Tottenham (2-0) particularly caught the attention of the English governing body. These practices were deemed deliberate violations of the rules established to ensure fairness between teams.
A Tifo featuring Aston Villa manager Unai Emery ahead of the Premier League match at Villa Park / ©Icon Sport