Aston Villa news: Ex-Fifa official issues ‘big’ claim after ‘unusual’ controversy
Keith Hackett has claimed it was “unusual” for kick-off in Brighton & Hove Albion’s game with Aston Villa on Saturday (26 February) to be delayed.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee suggested it will have caused a “big” problem with broadcast schedules around the world.
Aston Villa confirmed less than half an hour before the scheduled 3 pm kick-off that it had been pushed back to 3:30 pm.
The team bus had been stuck in traffic on their way to the Amex but despite the disruption were able to come away with a 2-0 win.
“This was most unusual,” Hackett told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“It rarely happens, it has happened before. We know that’s it down to traffic.
“Normally a team has got to be at the ground an hour and a half before kick-off so this is not just a short delay, it’s quite a big delay.
“The impact of that is that extra care for the supporters inside the stadium, keeping them informed.
“For health reasons the team will have had the warm up, you can’t ignore that. They can’t suddenly run down the tunnel and play the game. The professional footballer needs to have warm up time.
“The biggest problem is broadcast. All the games are covered live by the media and transmitted to around 45 television companies around the world.
“Can you imagine in Outer Mongolia you switch on for the game and nothing’s happening? In some countries it’s automatic, they don’t have a panel of pundits. They have a minute of introduction then straight into the match.
“The other thing is, not a problem for the clubs, but there is a problem for the betting companies.”
In other news, Aston Villa will listen to offers for a key player hailed as ‘brilliant’ by Jamie Carragher.