credit: Imago

Max Wilkins

Fri 15 August 2025 17:10, UK

Aston Villa are once again central to fresh sanctions ahead of the season’s opening day.

The Villans have had a busy summer filled with a number of financial concerns, which have had a telling impact on spending at Villa Park.

This has seen Nassef Sawiris speak out against PSR on many occasions, as a UEFA-sanctioned fine continues to hamper Villa in the transfer market.

With that being said, the latest problem in B6 has nothing to do with finances and looks set to have an impact on Aston Villa’s opening day clash against Newcastle United.

This article contains exclusive comments given to Villa News by former referee and ex-PGMOL general manager Keith Hackett.

Aston Villa break Premier League rules

There is no hiding away from the fact that Villa are causing trouble for themselves by going against simple rules that the Premier League enforce.

One being the multiball rule, which Aston Villa have been found guilty of breaching and have been fined £125,000 as a result.

“Misuse of the multiball system” was levelled against the B6 club in games against Manchester United, Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Brentford and Tottenham between October 2024 and May 2025.

This has caused unsurprising frustration among supporters, but former PGMOL chief, Keith Hackett, believes the Villans are deserving of the punishment, having constantly broken the rules.

Speaking exclusively to Villa News, Hackett said: “When I was the boss of the PGMOL, the use of the multiball system was withdrawn because it was getting abused.

“At that time, we witnessed ball boys not returning the ball. When it was reintroduced, the balls around the field were on top of plinths, easy for the player to recover a replacement ball.

“Every Premier League Club agreed to its introduction and the criteria on how it would operate.
It is evident that Aston Villa are guilty of operating outside that criteria, which, of course, is unacceptable.

“One assumes that the delay of the replacement ball was for tactical reasons.

“Let’s hope that the fine imposed sends out the appropriate messages.“

• Read more: Aston Villa could face a European ban if they break rules again

Aston Villa have to learn from constant errors

At some stage, the B6 club have to be held accountable for their actions and the constant trouble they’re getting themselves into.

Surely, after the first, second, third or fourth sanction of breaking the multiball rule, it shouldn’t be happening again, never mind five months later.

That is just the tip of the iceberg right now, with UEFA watching over every penny spent in the window by the Villans.

This has only seen Evann Guessand be the only big money signing, something which doesn’t look likely to change before the end of the window.

Sawiris and Wes Edens surely need to take a look at this and understand where things are going wrong on a regular basis.

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