Stan Collymore rages at Premier League ‘cartel’ after Tottenham announcement
Stan Collymore has been left unhappy with the what the Premier League announced for the Aston Villa clash against Tottenham.
He hit out at the organisation for its cartel-like nature as they made a decision that favours Spurs.
It has led to frustration at Aston Villa and Collymore, being a former striker for the Villa Park outfit, was also not pleased with it.
Premier League bring forward Villa v Spurs for the Europa League final
Tottenham have one foot in the Europa League final after beating Bodo/Glimt 3-1 in the first leg of their semi-final clash.
While they still have to get the job done in Norway, the Premier League have gone ahead preparing for the best-case scenario.
They have decided to bring forward the game at Villa Park by two days to 16 May.
| Premier League (expected finish) | Expected points |
| 14. Manchester United | 43.08 |
| 15. Everton | 43.02 |
| 16. Tottenham | 41.89 |
| 17. West Ham | 40.79 |
This decision has seen Villa’s director of football operations Damian Vidagany slam the league for its prejudice against the Birmingham outfit.
Collymore took to X to write: “The Premier League don’t do themselves any favours when it comes to fueling “cartel” conspiracy theories.
“The delay in letting supporters know about Villa v Spurs change and the seemingly arbitrary nature of their decision making around fixture changes isn’t a fit for purpose.”
Tottenham are not part of a cartel of any sort
Collymore and Villa’s frustrations with the Premier League’s decision to reschedule the match are justified due to the lack of transparency and perceived bias.
The fixture, moved from May 18 to May 16 to accommodate Tottenham’s potential Europa League final, disadvantages Villa by shortening their preparation time and disrupting fan plans for their final home game.
Collymore’s critique of the Premier League’s arbitrary decision-making and delayed communication fuels perceptions of a “cartel” favouring bigger clubs, as Villa’s director Vidagany noted a “clear prejudice.”
However, the Premier League’s rationale likely stems from a broader goal to support English clubs in European competitions, boosting the league’s UEFA coefficient.
If Villa were in the Champions League final, the Premier League would probably offer similar scheduling adjustments.
This reflects the league’s strategic interest in ensuring English teams, including Villa, succeed in Europe, even if the execution alienates some stakeholders.