Jamie Carragher apologizes to Aston Villa after legal action threat
- Former Liverpool defender admits his language was 'clumsy and wrong,' says remarks about club, fans intended as joke
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- Former Liverpool defender admits his language was 'clumsy and wrong,' says remarks about club, fans intended as joke
By Halis Sunnetci
ISTANBUL (AA) - Former Liverpool defender and football pundit Jamie Carragher apologized Saturday to Aston Villa after the English Premier League club announced plans to take legal action against him for "unacceptable insults."
"I’d like to apologise to Aston Villa, the owners & their fans. My language this week was clumsy & wrong. I can assure Villa fans it was tongue in cheek but I can understand it’s not come across that way, so apologies. Good luck today UTV!" Carragher wrote on US social media platform X.
The apology came after Aston Villa Chairman Nassef Sawiris announced Friday that the club would pursue legal action over Carragher's comments about the club and its supporters.
"Aston Villa will initiate legal action against Jamie Carragher for his unacceptable insults about the Club and its fans," Sawiris said in a statement on X.
"Aston Villa will not allow anyone to stop our ascension in English and European football," he added.
The dispute began after Carragher suggested on the Stick to Football podcast that Aston Villa manager Unai Emery might consider taking over at Manchester United, where head coach Michael Carrick is under increasing pressure.
Carragher argued that football has a hierarchy in which bigger clubs can attract players and managers from smaller teams.
"There is a chain in football, whether you like it or not," he said.
The former Liverpool defender also told Villa supporters to "shut the [expletive] up," adding, "Aston Villa will never be Manchester United."
His comments drew criticism from Villa supporters, prompting him to clarify his remarks on Friday's Overlap Daily program before the club's legal-action announcement.
Halis Sünnetci