Aston Villa has successfully prevented the rescheduling of their Premier League match against Tottenham from May 18 to May 16, which would have given Spurs extra time to prepare for the Europa League final. Villa’s decision was based on a legal interpretation of “The Spursy Rule,” which suggests that Tottenham should not assume they will progress in any competition, regardless of their current advantage.
The rule, introduced in 2016, was designed to address Tottenham’s historical tendency to falter in crucial moments, particularly highlighted by their unexpected third-place finish in a two-horse title race. Villa’s management emphasized that Tottenham’s presumption of advancing to the Europa League final was a breach of this rule, reinforcing their obligation to fulfill all scheduled fixtures.
In related news, UEFA is reportedly concerned about the potential for both Tottenham and Manchester United to reach the Europa League final, given their current performance levels. There are discussions about the viability of the competition if these two teams are the finalists, with some sources humorously suggesting that scrapping the tournament might be considered.
