Aston Villa ‘on thin ice’ as Uefa ban looms – ‘big red lights are flashing’
Aston Villa are in talks with Uefa over a financial settlement after breaching financial rules last season – when they participated in the Conference League.
Clubs in European competitions were required to keep spending on player wages and fees to 80 per cent of revenue as part of the squad cost ratio (SCR) rules for the 2024 calendar year.
Finance expert Stefan Borson told Football Insider on 16 April that Villa could have also breached SCR rules for the 2024-25 campaign.
Unai Emery‘s side reached the Champions League quarter-finals, where they were narrowly defeated by Paris Saint-Germain.
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 shared an update on his former side being given a European ban.
Wyness shares Aston Villa ban update
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness admitted Aston Villa are on “thin ice” with Uefa – but likely won’t be given a ban even for a potential future breach.
Emery’s side sit seventh in the Premier League and are likely to play European football again next season.
Wyness insisted he has “every belief” Villa chiefs will navigate past a serious punishment.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “It’s looking quite possible that Villa could make the fifth spot.
“It’s going to be a very exciting end to the season.
“If they do make it, it will mean great Champions League money coming in.
“The danger for next year is a ban from Uefa. That’s what they’ve got to be careful about.
“They’re going towards that area. I don’t think they’ll get a ban this time, or even next time – but it’s coming up.
“They’ll be aware, they’ve got a great management team in place and great owners.
“They’re on thin ice, they’ve got a big red light flashing – but they can navigate their way around it, as they have before.
“I’ve got every belief they will get through without a ban if they recognise the issues ahead of them.”
De Bruyne to Aston Villa update
Meanwhile, Football Insider has revealed (28 April) that Aston Villa chiefs will back Unai Emery if he wants to strike a free transfer deal for Kevin De Bruyne.
De Bruyne, 33, is keen to stay at the highest level as he considers his next move – but is on a huge deal at Man City.
The Belgian playmaker has already announced he intends to leave the Etihad Stadium at the end of his contract in June.
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