adminAston Villa’s starting lineup for their match against Tottenham will be reviewed by the Premier League following backlash from fans over the weakened squad selection, made amid a Europa League tie with Nottingham Forest.
Manager Unai Emery made seven changes to the side that lost 1-0 to Forest in the first leg of their semi-final, as Villa hosted Spurs on Sunday. His team fell to a 2-1 defeat at Villa Park and were largely outplayed, with Roberto De Zerbi’s side moving out of the relegation zone to 17th place.
Supporters of several Premier League clubs—especially those backing fellow relegation-threatened West Ham—took to social media to argue that Emery’s choices undermined the competition’s integrity.
It’s clear Villa’s upcoming match against Forest is Emery’s top priority, with Champions League qualification nearly secured as the team sits fifth in the Premier League.
Keith Hackett says Villa’s starting XI will be reviewed by the Premier League
The Premier League revised its official rules on fielding weakened teams when 25-man squads were introduced in 2010. Clubs are now allowed to select any player from their registered list.
However, they remain monitored, and teams cannot field multiple youngsters from outside their main squad to ensure competitive integrity.
Comparison of starting lineups:
Sources told Football Insider that Villa will lose revenue next season when the North Stand at Villa Park closes, so prioritizing the Europa League to secure Champions League qualification—and the associated money—is understandable.
Hackett insisted Villa’s lineup against Spurs will be examined, but he doesn’t expect a punishment. Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, he said: “There are Premier League regulations, and they monitor who is playing. They will review the team Emery put out. This happens a lot in Europe—competitions often help clubs by rescheduling games before big matches.
This Europa League semi-final is massive for Emery financially. I understand why he chose this team. Premier League administrators look closely at lineups to see if a weak team impacts the competition. Wait and see—but I don’t blame Emery. He has to focus on Thursday’s game.”
What did Emery say about his team selection?
Villa failed to register a shot on target until Emi Buendia’s 96th-minute consolation goal against Spurs, who claimed just their second Premier League away win of 2026. After the match, Emery defended his rotation:
“Playing with the eleven players we have in the squad, or choosing another eleven, we could have lost the match with different players. We didn’t deserve more. Tottenham played a very good match, scored two quick goals, and dominated the first half more than we planned.”
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