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Fans Protest Premier League Rules as Villa and Newcastle Battle to Stalemate
16 Aug
Summary
- Newcastle dominate first half but fail to score
- Aston Villa reduced to 10 men after Konsa's red card
- Fans criticize Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules
On August 16, 2025, Aston Villa and Newcastle United played out a goalless draw in their Premier League season opener. Newcastle dominated the first half, with Anthony Elanga and Anthony Gordon creating several chances, but they were unable to find the back of the net.
The match took a decisive turn in the 66th minute when Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa was sent off for a last-man foul on Gordon during a Newcastle counter-attack. Despite being a man down, Villa held firm and the game finished in a stalemate.
Notably, the match was marked by protests from both sets of supporters, who voiced their criticism of the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) and UEFA's Squad Cost Rules (SCR). The fans claimed these financial regulations are unfairly impacting their clubs' ability to strengthen their squads.
With Villa's squad set to be trimmed and Newcastle's recent struggles to sign a replacement for the injured Alexander Isak, the supporters found common ground in their frustration over the league's restrictive policies.
