Aston Villa face £10m fine – boardroom source reveals potential response
Aston Villa are once again fighting for Champions League qualification this term with five English clubs likely to make the cut for next season.
Unai Emery’s side sit 10th in the Premier League but are just four points adrift of the top five despite losing away at Crystal Palace on Tuesday (25 February).
However, Villa are in hot water with UEFA as they are expected to have breached squad cost ratio (SCR) rules for the 2024 calendar year.
Clubs in European competition were required to keep spending on player wages and fees to 80% of revenue last year – and Football Insider has been told that Villa could face a fine of around £10million.
Aston Villa’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Villa Park between 2016 and 2018 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – has insisted the Midlands giants may be “happy” to take that punishment.
Aston Villa may accept ‘£10m’ fine from UEFA
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness claimed Villa would be more happy to pay a fine if they can qualify for the Champions League next season.
| Games Played | 8 |
| Wins | 5 |
| Draws | 1 |
| Losses | 2 |
| Goal Difference | +7 |
| Ranking | 8th |
| Round of 16 Opponent | Club Brugge (Belgium) |
Emery’s side are still in this season’s competition and will play Club Brugge across two legs in the round of 16.
Wyness insisted another season in Europe’s elite club competition would be “very healthy” for Villa.
He told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: “If they qualify for Europe again, they’ll be happy to take the financial penalty.
“Another Champions League season would be very healthy for them.
“They’re still a long way from getting there now. It’s fascinating to look at the clubs from 10th up to third.
“There’s a lot of crucial games to go.“
Villa are pushing on and they have to capitalise on the opportunity.
“If they can, they can look at a £10million fine and say ‘Okay, we’ll take it’.”
‘Aston Villa set for fight to keep Rashford’
Football Insider has been told by ex-England goalkeeper Paul Robinson that Aston Villa are set to be in a fight with rivals to sign Man United forward Marcus Rashford permanently.
The 27-year-old joined Villa on loan in January but did have other options available to him.
Rashford has made just a handful of appearances at Villa Park but it has already been suggested that he could bank Emery’s side “£100million” in the coming years.
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