Aston Villa fans sent new message as protest planned over controversy at Villa Park
Dan Bardell has pleaded with a “split” Aston Villa fan base not to affect the players or Unai Emery amid a planned protest over the price of Champions League tickets.
Outrage has continued on social media after the Villans announced their pricing structure for tickets in the Champions League [avfc.co.uk, 4 September].
This has resulted in planned protests before and during the clash against Everton on Saturday (14 September), which will see supporters hold up red and black cards at Villa Park.
Sky Sports and talkSPORT journalist Bardell doesn’t want the controversy to bleed into games while suggesting the fan base has been divided by the situation.
Speaking exclusively to Villa News, Bardell said: “I do think it’s fifty-fifty split in terms of what fans think.
“There are those who want to protest and there are those who will buy the PSR line and that’s fine, everyone is entitled to their own opinion about this stuff.
“I would never want stuff to go into the game, it’s nothing to do with Emery or the players.
“There will be a number of people who feel that they need to do something and people will come together to do whatever they see fit.
“It does feel like there’s a split in the fan base at the moment.“
Aston Villa fans to protest Champions League prices v Everton
It is safe to say that this decision by the club has not gone down well with supporters or the national media in recent weeks.
The prices are much higher than other English sides in the competition, which has not washed with match-going fans.
The decision has been blamed on PSR but this has not appeased the opposition to the announcement and protests will go ahead.
A march outside the ground and a visual protest inside the stadium appear to be the methods chosen but this hasn’t gone down well with everyone.
It is unclear how this will run and whether or not it will be effective but there is no doubt that it has divided the fan base in what should be a joyous time.
In other Aston Villa news, Unai Emery receives massive boost as star returns to training in the latest footage.
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