Premier League fines Aston Villa £125,000 for obscure rule breach

Aston Villa Fined £125,000 for Breaching Premier League Rule

Aston Villa has been fined £125,000 on the first day of the Premier League season for repeatedly breaking a Premier League rule related to the misuse of the multiball system. This marks the fifth time they have breached this rule, leading to a total fine of £305,000 since the start of the 2024-25 campaign.

The Premier League introduced the multiball system in the 2022/23 season to ensure smooth flow of matches and enhance the fan experience. Aston Villa's breach of this rule during the 2024/25 season has resulted in the hefty fine and a ban on using the multiball system for their first three home fixtures of the 2025/26 season.

One of the violations involved Villa's final home game against Tottenham Hotspur last season, where they were accused of gaining a competitive advantage by instructing ball boys and girls to assist them during the match. The breach was noted by the officiating team, leading to the subsequent fine and ban on using the multiball system for upcoming matches.

In the upcoming games against Newcastle, Crystal Palace, and Fulham, Aston Villa will operate under a single-ball system, requiring players to retrieve the ball themselves when it goes out of play. If the ball is not easily accessible, it will be allowed to be collected by the ball boys or girls.