Tottenham fans angry over ‘pathetic’ new FA announcement after Aston Villa defeat: ‘What a joke’
Tottenham fans are fuming with the FA after confirmation that their club has been charged with misconduct for clashing with Aston Villa’s players and staff last weekend.
Thomas Frank needed a win to boost his chances of keeping his job as Tottenham manager on Saturday, but an in-form Villa side stood in the way of progression in the FA Cup.
Unai Emery’s men took a 2-0 lead in the first half in North London, through Emi Buendia and Morgan Rogers, and Spurs went on to crash out of the cup despite Wilson Odobert’s second half strike.
The defeat was a real blow to Spurs’ chances of silverware this season, and tensions boiled over after the final whistle as players and staff quarrelled on the pitch.
It looked as if Villa stars Ollie Watkins and Rogers were the instigators as they celebrated in front of their fans, but both clubs have now been charged by the relevant authorities.
Tottenham and Villa both charged with misconduct after cup melee
Villa striker Watkins lifted his arms aloft to the away fans in front of Tottenham’s Joao Palhinha moments after the whistle, which the Portugal international did not take kindly to as he quickly squared up to him.
Rogers and Lamare Bogarde soon got involved to back their teammate, while Micky van de Ven held Palhinha back and it quickly turned into a melee involving most of the playing and backroom staff for both teams.
Former FIFA referee Keith Hackett later told Football Insider that he expected Tottenham and Villa to be sanctioned by the FA, with fines potentially reaching up to £250,000.
A new X post by the FA Spokesperson has confirmed that both clubs are set to be charged with misconduct, after failing to ensure that their players or officials did not behave in an improper or provocative way after the final whistle.
Tottenham fans fume as FA charges loom once more – ‘
Spurs and Villa each have until Friday to respond to their new charges, with the FA likely acting quickly to try to resolve the matter due to its high-profile nature.
This is Tottenham’s second charge in the last month, after Cristian Romero was sent off against Liverpool and subsequently handed an additional one-match suspension and £50,000 fine by the FA for aggressive behaviour towards the referee.
Their supporters are clearly fed up with being sanctioned and feel as if they are being unfairly treated, with one fan taking to X to say: “You lot (the FA) are beyond embarrassing now. Start charging your woeful referees for losing control of games“
Another said: “What a joke! The reality is (that) Villa started it (not that it matters). If this happened during the game, there would be 2-3 yellows that’s it. You guys are a joke! Maybe focus on not having (mostly) pathetic referees and an embarrassing VAR process.“
While one fan added: “You lot might be the only ones who hate us more than ourselves.”