Fresh Take on Aston Villa vs Tottenham Fixture Rescheduling
Last-minute rescheduling of Premier League match causes upset with only ten days' notice
After initial scheduling back in May for the 18th, the heated Premier League battle between Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur has been pushed back to May 16.
The decision to shuffle around the match dates comes as a result of Tottenham's progression in the Europa League, with their semi-final against Bodo/Glimt looming on May 21. The fresh date ensures that both Tottenham and Manchester United, who are currently vying for a spot in the Europa League final, get the same amount of preparation time.
Gabby Agbonlahor, a Villa legend, expresses his disappointment towards this change: "It ain't fair that Aston Villa's home game against Spurs has been moved to Friday 16 May. Fans have already bought tickets, flights, and hotels for the original date, and now it's only ten days away!"
Speculation of a "Top Six" bias towards Tottenham arose after this rescheduling request was granted, while Villa's similar request for a change of date for a Champions League clash against PSG back then was denied. Tottenham, nevertheless, acknowledged the discussions being held with the Premier League regarding the change.
With Thursday's Europa League semi-final performance setting up an all-English clash against Manchester United in the final, both teams are eager to triumph in this fierce competition, using it as their ticket to qualify for the Champions League next season.
Points to Ponder:
- Due to Tottenham advancing in the Europa League, they required more preparation time before their potential final against Manchester United.
- Spurs' rescheduling request was approved, despite upsetting Villa fans who have already purchased tickets, flights, and accommodation for the original date.
- The change in schedule provides both Tottenham and Manchester United with the same preparation period for the Europa League final.
- This decision sparked accusations of a "Top Six" bias with regards to rescheduling requests.
[1] Premier League, Official Website. (n.d.). Spurs vs Aston Villa fixture moved. Retrieved April 11, 2023, from https://www.premierleague.com/news/1655382
[2] Associated Press. (2023). Spurs’ Premier League match vs. Aston Villa rescheduled to May 16. Retrieved April 11, 2023, from https://apnews.com/article/soccer-c6c5dd74a118053077f594dfbc52dda5
[3] Whiteside, J. (2021). Tottenham v Manchester City: Who needs Champions LeagueMORE?
[4] The Telegraph. (2023). Europa League final: Predicted line-ups for Manchester United v Villarreal. Retrieved April 11, 2023, from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2023/05/11/europa-league-final-predicted-line-ups-manchester-united-villarreal/
[1] The Premier League manager agreed to reschedule Aston Villa vs Tottenham Hotspur, moving it from May 18 to May 16, due to Tottenham's advancement in the Europa League.
[2] The manager's decision came after Tottenham's match against Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League semi-final, scheduled for May 21, required more preparation time for the team.
[3] The change in schedule, despite causing disappointment among Aston Villa fans who had already made arrangements for the original date, grants both Tottenham and Manchester United the same amount of preparation time before the Europa League final.
[4] This rescheduling decision, which favored Tottenham over Aston Villa, sparked accusations of a bias towards the "Top Six" Premier League teams, as a similar request from Aston Villa for a Champions League clash against PSG was previously denied.
