Ex-FIFA official Keith Hackett has urged authorities to dock points from Tottenham and Aston Villa.

Ex-FIFA Referee Calls for Points Deductions Against Tottenham and Aston Villa
Former FIFA referee Keith Hackett has sparked controversy by suggesting that Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa should have been punished with points deductions following recent disciplinary issues.

Both clubs are yet to play their Premier League fixtures this weekend, with Aston Villa set to face Brentford on Sunday afternoon and Tottenham preparing to host Manchester City in north London. However, the debate resurfaced after Tottenham and Villa were each fined £125,000 over a mass confrontation that occurred during their FA Cup clash on January 10.

Hackett, who previously served as head of PGMOL, argued that the sanctions were too lenient and that stronger measures should have been imposed. The FA had ruled that both clubs failed to control their players and officials, who behaved in an improper and provocative manner after the final whistle.

The incident followed Aston Villa’s 2-1 victory over Tottenham, with tensions flaring when Joao Palhinha reacted angrily to Ollie Watkins’ celebrations in front of Villa supporters. A brief scuffle ensued, drawing in several players from both sides, including Morgan Rogers.

Speaking to Tottenham News, Hackett insisted that fines alone were not enough to send a strong message, suggesting that points deductions would have been a more effective deterrent. However, critics argue that punishing clubs in the league for an incident that occurred in the FA Cup could be seen as excessive and unfair.

While Hackett’s proposal may appear extreme, it highlights a broader issue: financial penalties of this scale have little impact on wealthy Premier League clubs. With revenues reaching tens or even hundreds of millions of pounds, a £125,000 fine often feels symbolic rather than disciplinary.

Many believe that significantly higher fines or stricter sanctions could push clubs to take stronger action internally, improving discipline and preventing similar incidents. Recent clashes in other matches, including Chelsea’s win over West Ham, further suggest that current punishments may not be sufficient.