Tottenham fans rage at ‘shambolic’ FA statement after Aston Villa defeat

Tottenham fans have reacted angrily to the FA after it was announced that the club has been charged with misconduct following post-match clashes with Aston Villa players and staff last weekend. Spurs head coach Thomas Frank was under pressure to secure a win to steady his position, but a confident Villa side brought Tottenham’s FA Cup campaign to an end. First-half goals from Emi Buendia and Morgan Rogers put Unai Emery’s team 2-0 ahead in North London, and although Wilson Odobert pulled one back after the break, Spurs were eliminated.

The loss was a major setback to Tottenham’s hopes of winning silverware this season, and tempers boiled over at full-time as players and staff from both teams became involved in a heated confrontation. The flashpoint appeared to come when Ollie Watkins and Rogers celebrated in front of the travelling Villa supporters, provoking a reaction from the Spurs players. Watkins was seen gesturing toward the away end in front of midfielder Joao Palhinha shortly after the final whistle, triggering an immediate clash. Rogers and Lamare Bogarde rushed in to back up their teammate, while Micky van de Ven tried to hold Palhinha back before the situation spiralled into a large-scale scuffle involving players and backroom staff from both sides.

Former FIFA referee Keith Hackett later told Football Insider he expected disciplinary action against both clubs, with fines potentially reaching £250,000. The FA has since confirmed in a statement on X that both Tottenham and Aston Villa will be charged with misconduct for failing to prevent their players and officials from acting in an improper or provocative way after the match. Both clubs have until Friday to respond, with the FA keen to resolve the matter quickly given the high-profile nature of the incident.

The decision has only deepened the frustration among Spurs supporters, as it represents Tottenham’s second FA charge in a month. Earlier, Cristian Romero was handed an extra one-match suspension and a £50,000 fine for aggressive behaviour toward a referee following his dismissal against Liverpool. Many fans believe the club is being unfairly singled out, with one supporter writing on X: “The FA are a joke. Maybe they should start punishing referees for losing control of matches.”