Aston Villa rejecting Tottenham deemed 'selfish' after fixture request made

Aston Villa have rejected out of hand the prospect of their fixture with Tottenham Hotspur being rescheduled next month - something former Premier League referee Keith Hackett has deemed 'selfish'.

Villa were asked by Spurs, who they are due to play at Villa Park on Sunday 18 May, if they would agree to bring the game forward by three days, to Thursday 15 May, because if they reach the Europa League final, which takes place in Bilbao on Wednesday 21 May, they'd have potentially a damagingly quick turnaround.

Villa, though, who will host Spurs in what is their final home game of the season, have objected to the request as they wish to play that last game in front of home supporters in the day time, and have pre-match plans which wouldn't be possible if the game took place on an evening.

They have four matches left to play and need to take as many points as possible in those remaining games to give themselves the best chance of securing a second successive campaign in the Champions League, something which is their priority now that they have bowed out of the Champions League and the FA Cup.

Hackett, a former top flight official, believes the situation reflects what he considers to be selfishness of Premier League clubs who wouldn't accommodate such requests from their fellow sides in order to potentially aid their cause in the Europa League.

“In mainland Europe, you see clubs and competitions assisting clubs who reach the finals of European competitions," he told Villa News. “This may well be driven by the leagues, who see the prestige of one of the clubs reaching a final.

“What a pity that Villa have declined Spurs’ request, and it highlights the selfish nature and relationship between clubs in the Premier League.”

In the quarter finals of the Champions League, the French footballing authorities stepped in to ensure that Paris Saint-Germain's weekend fixture against Nantes, in between their two legs with Villa, would be rescheduled to offer PSG the best chance of playing at their maximum level across the tie.

They cited that they did so in the interest of a club representing France in European competition, but there is no obligation for Premier League sides to do so.

Spurs take on Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt in the first leg of the semi-finals this week and then they head onto the continent next week for the second leg next Thursday. Manchester United face Athletic Bilbao in the other semi-final.

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