Aston Villa are objecting to the Premier League over a potential scheduling change for their home game against Tottenham Hotspur.
The league fixture is due to be played on Sunday, May 18 but Tottenham said in a statement on Sunday that they are in discussions with the Premier League to change the date.
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Tottenham are in the semi-finals of the Europa League, where they face Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt, and the competition’s final takes place three days after the scheduled Premier League game against Villa, on Wednesday 21.
Villa’s match against Spurs is the final home match of the campaign for Unai Emery’s side, but the club fear that a rescheduling — likely to be moved to midweek — will mean a shorter turnaround between matches and could disrupt preparations for a defining set of fixtures in Villa’s pursuit of European qualification.
Tottenham’s visit comes after a home match with Fulham on Saturday, May 3 before a trip to Bournemouth on Saturday, May 10. Villa’s 3-0 FA Cup semi-final defeat against Crystal Palace marked their 54th match of the season and their ninth in the previous 30 days.
Consequently, Villa are voicing their opposition to a change in date, believing it would be a favour to Tottenham while causing disruption to their own season.
A Tottenham statement on Sunday read: “We should like to inform supporters that we are in discussions with the Premier League regarding a change in date to our away Premier League match against Aston Villa, currently scheduled for Sunday 18 May.
“Further information surrounding this fixture will be announced in due course.”
Manchester United could also reach the Europa League final but their preceding fixture, away against Chelsea, is slated for Friday, May 16, two days before the Villa vs Spurs game and five before the final in Bilbao.
Villa currently sit seventh in the Premier League, three points behind Chelsea in fifth.
(Photo: Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images)
