Aston Villa Fined for Breaching Multi-Ball Rules
Aston Villa has been fined £125,000 after admitting to violating the Premier League's multi-ball regulations during five matches last season.
An investigation revealed that ball boys and girls occasionally handed the ball directly to Villa players, rather than adhering to the rules that require players to collect balls from designated cones around the pitch.
In certain matches, additional balls were placed for Villa players taking corners, and on one occasion, a ball was thrown onto the pitch while an opposing goalkeeper was already in possession of a ball, preparing for a goal-kick.
The Premier League emphasized the importance of compliance, stating, "Clubs are required to implement a multi-ball system at every league match. Adherence to the relevant rules and guidance is essential for maintaining consistency and, importantly, to prevent home clubs from gaining a competitive advantage through misuse of the system."
As part of the penalty, Aston Villa will pay the £125,000 fine and will be prohibited from using the multi-ball system during their first three home league matches of the 2025/26 season.