TEMPERS FLARE AS TOTTENHAM EXIT FA CUP IN HEATED POST-MATCH BRAWL
A fiery post-match brawl overshadowed Aston Villa’s hard-fought 2–1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup third round at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday night.
The brawl left both sides and their supporters reeling.
Villa took control early, with Emiliano Buendía and Morgan Rogers scoring in the first half to put the visitors 2–0 up, before Wilson Odobert pulled one back for Spurs after the break.
Despite Tottenham’s improved second-half performance, they couldn’t find an equaliser and were knocked out of the competition, extending a difficult spell for manager Thomas Frank and his players.
As the final whistle blew, emotions were already running high, and they quickly spilt over.
Villa forward Ollie Watkins went to celebrate the win close to the travelling supporters and in the vicinity of Tottenham’s João Palhinha, a moment Frank believes sparked the confrontation.
Palhinha responded by shoving Watkins, triggering a chaotic confrontation that drew in players from both teams, coaching staff, substitutes and even stewards.
Frank, clearly frustrated in his post-match comments, said he felt the clash was provoked by Watkins’ celebration in front of Spurs players and fans. He stressed that while passion is part of football, maintaining composure is crucial, especially after a defeat in such a high-stakes match.
Villa manager Unai Emery took a calmer tone, praising his side’s performance and backing the officials on the day, even as tensions boiled over on the pitch.
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