The Independent

Thomas Frank wants Tottenham Hotspur to go all the way in the Carabao Cup this season, but questioned why the semi-finals were still two-legged.

Spurs travel to holders Newcastle in the fourth round on Wednesday, eager to stay on track for more silverware after they ended a 17-year drought with Europa League success in May under Frank’s predecessor Ange Postecoglou.

Tottenham played 60 matches in the 2024-25 campaign and the midweek trip to St James’ Park will be the club’s 15th of this season, which has led Frank to suggest a change-up for a domestic competition often under scrutiny amid an ever-growing football calendar.

“By the way, one thing I’ve been thinking about is that there should only be one semi-final,” Frank said.

“I think two reasons. For the smaller clubs, if you want to beat a bigger club, it’s much much easier to play only one game, so we really want someone to break out and it’s not the same boring same teams winning – of course except from Spurs!

“Then we need to skip one semi-final for everyone else that plays so many games. It should only be one.

“If it’s about money, then someone needs to fix it. If it’s Premier League paying money to EFL (English Football League), because as far as I understand it, it’s because of that. So someone has to fix it. It should be very, very easy.”

Frank missed out on the semi-finals last season after Brentford lost 3-1 in the last eight away to eventual winners Newcastle at St James’ Park.

Newcastle went on to win the competition and secure a first domestic trophy in 70 years as Eddie Howe made history as Magpies boss.

There are similarities between Howe and Frank, given they both established unfancied clubs in the Premier League in the shape of Bournemouth and Brentford respectively before they earned jobs at teams with greater resources.

Spurs head coach Frank added: “I admire Eddie massively.

“Remarkable job in Bournemouth. I followed his team, followed what they did. Fantastic.

“And then he got the big job or the bigger job in Newcastle and the way he turned that around to qualify for the Champions League twice I think, and of course when the cup came out, he transformed the club.

“I think that’s quite impressive. He’s a clever tactician, he clearly knows what he wants, very consistent and I think he’s done very well.”

The Carabao Cup was the first major trophy won in Howe’s career.

When it was put to Frank that the Newcastle boss could now be declared a winner, he countered: “What is a winner?

“Is a winner one that wins something? Or – now I’m not talking about football coaches, just people – is a winner who’s getting up every day relentlessly doing a job, setbacks, keep going. Is that a winner?

“But the perception is always that big trophy. I would love to win. We would love to win.

“I think it’s easier to call it a winner if you win something – so that’s the aim.”

PA

Harry Kane and Jimmy Greaves, Gary Lineker and Gareth Bale, Chris Waddle and Glenn Hoddle, Jurgen Klinsmann and Paul Gascoigne. And now Micky van de Ven. The list of Tottenham’s top scorers in seasons is distinguished indeed but there is an anomaly at the moment, a Dutch defender in the territory previously occupied by Teddy Sheringham, Dimitar Berbatov, Robbie Keane, Clive Allen, Martin Chivers, Bobby Smith and Heung-Min Son.

Van de Ven may be an intrepid interloper in the scoring charts, but he was also a fearless traveller: to the Hill Dickinson Stadium, as Tottenham became the first visitors to win, and to the Everton penalty box to score twice. The Dutchman surprised even himself. “It’s crazy, I never score two goals in one game,” he said. “It always goes through your head that I might get a hat-trick.” That may not be a phrase he has uttered before his brace, along with a Pape Matar Sarr clincher, earned a victory that made the Hill Dickinson look less like a fortress by the Mersey and Tottenham more like a Thomas Frank team.

A triumph built on a clean sheet and two goals from corners? It was scarcely Angeball. But then Ange Postecoglou took Tottenham to 17th in the Premier League. These are early days, but his successor’s side are third. Postecoglou could seem to have disdain for set-pieces. Frank doesn’t. Brentford were such dead-ball specialists their set-piece coach became Frank’s replacement as manager.

And Van de Ven may be the face of this Spurs. Promoted from the ranks, he is captaining them while Cristian Romero is out. Newly prolific, he is compensating for the absence of more obvious scorers like Dominic Solanke, Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison; after only finding the net seven times in his club career, he now has five goals this campaign. Whereas Postecoglou’s teams were porous, Frank’s Spurs have a defensive record bettered only by Arsenal. It may help, too, that Van de Ven’s hamstrings are put under less stress, with Frank’s defensive line set deeper than Postecoglou’s.

There was a pragmatic feel to this but pragmatism is no longer a dirty word for Tottenham. Their xG from open play was just 0.78 but Romero’s understudy Kevin Danso amassed 18 clearances and, with his long throw, added to their set-piece armoury. “We have a clean-sheet mentality,” said Frank. It may be something he has brought. “The second half was a dogfight,” he added. It was earthy and gritty but Tottenham showed why they possess the Premier League’s only unbeaten record on the road. They may not have an excess of creativity at home but they were solid and streetwise and that can be a fine basis.

“Set pieces are so crucial,” Frank said. “Right now, Arsenal is on track for the title from set pieces.” Spurs are on course for a fine season themselves and Daivd Moyes noted: “We don't concede a lot from corners and I have to praise Tottenham. Thomas Frank works a lot on it.”

That training-ground work yielded two goals. Van de Ven’s first was a well-worked set-piece, the centre-back running from behind the far post to the goal-line, Rodrigo Bentancur circling around to appear on the turf he vacated and meeting Mohammed Kudus’ deep corner with a header across the box for the Dutchman to nod in. His second seemed simpler, Van de Ven just outjumping Jordan Pickford to head in Pedro Porro’s corner. “Micky again,” chorused the travelling fans. “At the start of the season, I said, ‘you are a centre back and you need to score more,’” said Frank. Van de Ven responded. “The way he attacked the ball and got in there where it hurts” impressed his manager.

Perhaps at fault for Van de Ven’s second, Pickford went on to make a fine save from his former teammate Richarlison: Everton may have been relieved a player who tended to score on his returns to Goodison Park was only a substitute. Richarlison instead recorded an assist, setting up his fellow substitute Sarr. It was the cue for the Hill Dickinson to empty.

Everton could reflect on two moments when it might have been different. Porro made a brilliant block on the goal-line in the third minute to thwart Jack Grealish. Everton celebrated an equaliser from another corner, Jake O’Brien heading in. But replays showed Iliman Ndiaye and Grealish offside and around Guglielmo Vicario. “I think it was the right decision,” said an admirably honest Moyes.

Vicario, carrying on where he left off in Monaco, made a terrific save from James Garner and a still better one to repel Beto’s overhead kick. He did well to keep out Ndiaye’s deflected effort. Another shutout owed much to the goalkeeper. “He was man of the match in Monaco,” said Frank. “Micky was man of the match today. And we shouldn’t forget Kevin Danso, who has done very well to step in.”

So has Frank since his appointment. The good news for Tottenham is they are third. The bad news, of course, is that Arsenal are first.

Everton vs Tottenham betting tips

Everton welcome Tottenham to the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday, looking for their third home league win of the season (4:30pm, Sky Sports Main Event).

David Moyes’ side are unbeaten in their new home, beating Brighton and Crystal Palace and drawing with Aston Villa and West Ham, so can they keep up that record against Thomas Frank’s side?

Betting sites are optimistic about their chances, making them favourites for the game, but Tottenham’s best work under Frank this season has come away from home.

Spurs go into the game sixth in the Premier League table, three points and six places above Everton, but they did have a midweek trip to Monaco to contend with.

Monaco held Tottenham to a goalless draw in the Champions League on Wednesday, which is only the second time this season they have failed to score, so it’s no surprise you can get 31/40 in the Premier League odds on both teams to score.

At first glance, Spurs have a great record at Everton’s old Goodison Park ground, losing just one of their last 12 visits.

But they are actually winless on their last six visits to the blue half of Merseyside, drawing five and losing 3-2 in this fixture back in January.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Iliman Ndiaye were on target before an own goal from Archie Gray gave the home side a 3-0 lead at the break, in only Moyes’ second game back in charge of the club.

Dejan Kulusevski and former Toffee Richarlison did pull goals back for the visitors, but it was another defeat for Ange Postecoglou’s side.

The Toffees have lost just one of their last 13 Premier League home matches, winning five and drawing seven since the 2-0 defeat to Manchester City in April and football betting sites are giving them the edge here as they seek a 52nd win over Spurs.

But Tottenham have won three out of four away games this season in the Premier League, while the recent trend for draws in this fixture only adds to the difficulty of trying to predict an outcome.

Instead, goals could be a better option. Tottenham have scored two or more goals in five of the last six away games, while Everton have scored twice in three out of five matches at their new home ground.

Everton vs Tottenham prediction 1: Over 2.5 goals - 1/1 BetMGM

Everton vs Tottenham betting tips: Richarlison could enjoy Merseyside return

Richarlison scored 53 goals for Everton in a four-year spell before leaving to join Spurs in the summer of 2022 for £60m.

And since he’s been away, he also has a pretty good record of scoring against them, with five goals in seven appearances.

We’ve already mentioned that he scored at Goodison Park last season, and he scored twice there the previous season as Everton came from behind to secure a 2-2 draw.

Premier League betting sites are offering 18/1 on him scoring twice again, or you can get 15/2 on him scoring first.

Everton vs Tottenham prediction 2: Richarlison to score - 13/5 Betway

Everton vs Tottenham team news

Everton vs Tottenham predicted line-ups

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Within one hour of the accumulator being settled, LiveScore Bet will credit users with a £10 free bet to use on any football market, meaning you can place a Saturday acca and have a free bet to use on Everton against Tottenham on Sunday.

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A string of fine saves by Guglielmo Vicario helped Tottenham claim a 0-0 draw at Monaco to remain unbeaten in the Champions League.

Injury-hit Spurs were far from their best at Stade Louis II and needed Vicario on top form to deny Folarin Balogun on three occasions before he brilliantly thwarted Thilo Kehrer’s close-range header in the second half.

It ensured Thomas Frank’s Tottenham left Monaco with five points after three Champions League games, but full-time was met with a smattering of boos from the away end after yet another disjointed attacking display.

Spurs were without captain Cristian Romero – one of 10 players unavailable – and Frank again shuffled his pack with £52m playmaker Xavi Simons only on the bench and Archie Gray surprisingly recalled at left-back.

Gray was quickly involved, blocking an effort by the excellent Maghnes Akliouche before Vicario saved from Balogun and Tottenham’s makeshift full-back then intercepted Ansu Fati’s pass after a dangerous run.

The visitors threatened for the first time after 20 minutes when Wilson Odobert clipped a ball in for stand-in captain Micky van de Ven, but he could only head over under pressure.

It was then Vicario’s turn to step up as he clawed away a dangerous cross by Akliouche before Balogun peeled off van de Ven, but the Spurs goalkeeper raced out to block bravely.

Seconds later and Odobert slipped in Richarlison, who had a left-footed shot thwarted by Mohammed Salisu.

However, Tottenham were indebted to Vicario in the 36th-minute. Balogun again found space and was picked out by Mamadou Coulibaly but the Italian keeper brilliantly parried away Balogun’s curled shot from 12 yards.

It remained goalless at the break after Kevin Danso sent over a corner by Kudus – not long after he headed straight at Philipp Kohn, but he was subsequently penalised for a foul.

Akliouche put Joao Palhinha on his backside at the start of the second half only to scuff his effort straight at Vicario before Odobert cut inside and had a shot deflected over by Kehrer.

Chances remained limited and after Pedro Porro hit a free-kick into the wall, Frank made his first substitutions with Xavi and Pape Sarr sent on after an hour.

Monaco remained on top and Vicario pushed wide a shot by substitute Aleksandr Golovin before he scrambled across his goal and looked mightily relived when Kehrer headed past the post from a Fati cross.

Frank’s next roll of the dice was to introduce Brennan Johnson and Randal Kolo Muani, but it failed to stem the tide.

Vicario’s next heroics occurred in the 75th minute when Caio Henrique’s cross found Jordan Teze and yet his close-range header was superbly blocked by Spurs’ busy goalkeeper.

Former Liverpool attacker Takumi Minamino took centre stage for the closing exchanges, lifting a tough volleyed chance over before he fired another shot wide.

Minamino squandered another golden opportunity with seven minutes left when he blazed over from Balogun’s cut-back.

Spurs did finally fashion a chance late on but Johnson’s effort was blocked by Christian Mawissa and it finished goalless.

Tottenham travel to AS Monaco for their next match in the Champions League league phase as they look to bounce back from a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa at the weekend.

Two games into the European top flight campaign and Spurs have beaten Villarreal 1-0 before a 2-2 draw with Bodo/Glimt left them ninth in the table heading into tonight’s clash.

Thomas Frank is hoping to build more consistency in his side as Spurs have only won twice in six games since that victory of Villarreal. Their defeat to Villa was especially frustrating as Tottenham took an early lead and had more shots on target but ultimately conceded two goals.

For their part, Monaco are on a four-game streak without a win but they twice fought back against Manchester City to draw 2-2 in their previous Champions League outing. Though sitting seventh in Ligue 1 the French side will be confident of springing a surprise on Spurs tonight.

Here’s everything you need to know:

When is Monaco vs Tottenham?

Tottenham’s clash with Monaco in the Champions League kicks off at 8:00pm BST on Wednesday 22 October at Stade Louis II in Monaco.

How can I watch it?

Viewers in the UK can watch the match on TNT Sports 3 with coverage starting at 7pm BST. Subscribers can also stream the match online via Discovery+.

You can purchase a TNT Sports subscription via discovery+ here, for only £30.99 per month.

Team news

Eric Dier will not be fit to face his old team as he is sidelined for the match through injury. Lukas Hradecky (knee), Christian Mawissa (hamstring), Vanderson (hamstring), Denis Zakaria (adductor) and Lamine Camara (ankle) and all absent too and Paul Pogba is a doubt due to a lack of match fitness.

Destiny Udogie and Cristian Romero will not feature after picking up respective knee and adductor injuries ahead of the Aston Villa result.

Long term absentees Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, Yves Bissouma, Radu Dragusin, Kota Takai, Ben Davies and Dominic Solanke are all expected to miss out for the visitors. Mathys Tel, meanwhile, is ineligible.

Newcastle vs Benfica predicted line-ups

Monaco XI: Kohn; Diatta, Kehrer, Salisu, Ouattara; Teze, Coulidbaly; Akliouche, Fati, Henrique; Biereth

Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank has offered an update on the injury to captain Cristian Romero ahead of his side’s Champions League match against AS Monaco on Wednesday.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Frank emphasised that he is not concerned about Romero – who was forced to withdraw from the loss against Aston Villa due to an injury suffered in the warm-up – though he did not know the timeframe for the Argentina defender’s return.

“It’s an adductor strain. We will assess it more this week before we confirm any timeframe,” explained the Dane.

“No I don't think so, it's a strain,” he replied when asked if fans should be concerned.

The Spurs boss also issued an update on Italian full-back Destiny Udogie, who has not travelled to Monaco ahead of the game.

“The latest is that he got that knee irritation after international duty. We are assessing and working very hard to get on top of it. We'll know more day by day,” added Frank.

Spurs are in the middle of navigating a minor injury crisis, with nine senior players currently sidelined after that injury to Romero.

James Maddison is the player who’ll likely be out for the longest, with the England midfielder having suffered an ACL injury in August. While he will be out until the end of the season, the rest of the injured players should be making returns soon, with Romero and Udogie potentially back in the squad at the weekend.

Centre-back Kota Takai and midfielder Yves Bissouma could make their returns in early November, while key striker Dominic Solanke is reportedly “progressing well” in his recovery. Dejan Kukusevski and Radu Dragusin – who suffered an ACL injury of his own – are also targeting a November return.

Spurs face Monaco at the Stade Louis II on Wednesday, with kick-off set for 8pm BST. The match is the third in Spurs’ league phase campaign, with the Lilywhites starting the week in 10th in the league phase table after a win against Villarreal and a draw against Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt.

Thomas Frank defended Tottenham after they slipped to another home defeat in the Premier League with a 2-1 loss to Aston Villa.

Rodrigo Bentancur fired Spurs ahead after five minutes, but they failed to build on a strong start with Morgan Rogers’ first goal for Villa in 20 matches able to level matters in the 37th minute.

Chances remained at a premium in the second half until Villa substitute Emiliano Buendia curled the ball through a crowd of bodies after 77 minutes to inflict more home woe on the north London club.

New boss Frank has overseen two defeats in his first four home league fixtures at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which has added to a dismal overall record from the last 12 months.

This loss makes it three wins from Spurs’ last 18 home league matches.

Asked if he could explain that form, Frank said: “I hope I can. Maybe it is not that simple.

“(This) is a game that is a draw. A clear draw and we could have easily won it instead of Villa and then it is a different narrative. So, I look at the performance on the pitch – we did well and I’ll look at the bits we need to improve.”

Spurs lost captain Cristian Romero in the warm-up to adductor issue, but started superbly as Bentancur drilled in from eight yards after Joao Palhinha headed down Mohammed Kudus’ superb cross.

Kudus had the ball in the net two minutes later but it was ruled out for offside before Wilson Odobert tested Emi Martinez, but Villa levelled when Rogers skipped past Xavi Simons and let fly with a dipping shot from 20 yards.

Mathys Tel squandered an opening at the end of the first half before Odobert had an effort blocked on the line by Ezri Konsa.

Villa boss Unai Emery reacted with Buendia and Ollie Watkins sent on and – while Frank had Lucas Bergvall and Randal Kolo Muani ready for close to five minutes on the touchline – Spurs were punished.

Matty Cash’s sumptuous crossfield half-volley was plucked out of the air by Lucas Digne, who teed up Buendia and he curled into the bottom corner to secure a fifth-consecutive victory for the visitors.

“I think we performed quite well. Maybe not through the roof,” Frank added., “We gave away what eight shots? Not even a cross more or less. Very, very low XG (expected goals) and (Guglielmo) Vicario didn’t have a save.

“If you said to me before the game ‘they will shoot from there, Rogers and Buendia’, from that situation, I would say, ‘of course, it’s not dangerous’, but fantastic quality shot from Rogers.

“In those very little moments, they had more quality in the end.”

Villa started the campaign with a run of five league fixtures without a win, but Emery still expected more from his squad despite a statement success at Tottenham.

Emery said: “Still more to do and still players to increase their level because they are coming after being injured and we have some injured.

“We learn last year, the second half of the season we were performing fantastic and we were with a lot of players in different positions ready to play and helping to play 30 minutes.

“Today is the example. The 30 minutes of Watkins and Buendia, they do a fantastic job. We compete today fantastic and through the quality of the players adding it, we won.”

Morgan Rogers' first goal for Aston Villa in 20 matches inspired a fifth-consecutive win and piled more home woe on Tottenham as they suffered a 2-1 Premier League defeat.

Rogers had shone for England during the international break, but failed to score in club football since the start of April, but changed that at Spurs with a sensational 37th-minute leveller.

It cancelled out Rodrigo Bentancur's fifth-minute opener for Thomas Frank's side and as Tottenham pushed for a rare home victory in the league in 2025, they were hit with a sucker-punch as Emiliano Buendia's curler, 13 minutes from time sealed the comeback for Villa.

Frank had failed to beat Unai Emery in five previous attempts and his efforts this time were not helped by captain Cristian Romero being forced to pull out in the warm-up.

It meant Kevin Danso was a last-minute inclusion for Spurs, but the hosts put that to one side to break the deadlock after five minutes.

Villa dealt with the initial corner into the area and yet Mohammed Kudus' superb follow-up delivery was headed back across goal by Joao Palhinha for Bentancur to drill in from eight yards, for his first goal in 10 months.

It was momentarily 2-0 two minutes later when Kudus drilled through Emi Martinez after a wonderful crossfield ball by stand-in captain Micky van de Ven, but it was correctly ruled out for offside.

Villa did respond with pantomime villain Matty Cash - who was booed after two notably-poor tackles in past meetings with Tottenham - firing wide from range in the 15th minute.

Martinez spilled an effort by Wilson Odobert soon after, but no Spurs player reacted quick enough before opposite number Guglielmo Vicario punched out a dangerous Lucas Digne cross.

Tottenham looked set to retain their lead at half-time until Rogers produced a sensational equaliser.

With 37 minutes on the clock, England attacker Rogers skipped past Xavi Simons and rifled a dripping effort beyond Vicario for his first goal of the campaign.

Flying tackles resulted in brief stoppages for Amadou Onana and Pedro Porro before Tottenham forward Mathys Tel squandered an opening at the back post from a Kudus cross to ensure it stayed 1-1 at the break.

After Villa full-back Digne required treatment after being caught by Danso with his follow-through, the second half sparked into life.

A long throw by Danso sparked chaos in the away goal but Ezri Konsa managed to block Odobert's goal-bound effort on the line before soon after Palhinha's 20-yard curler was tipped wide by Martinez.

Emery's team swung back as John McGinn slipped in Donyell Malen but he fired into the side-netting under pressure from Van de Ven.

Both benches reacted, with Richarlison sent on for Spurs on the hour mark and Ollie Watkins introduced a minute later.

Frank prepared to roll the dice again with Lucas Bergvall and Randal Kolo Muani ready to come on but after Tottenham declined multiple chances to send them on, Villa punished the hosts in the 77th minute.

The visiting full-backs combined with Cash's wonderful crossfield pass plucked out of the air by Digne, who teed up Buendia and he curled around a crowd of bodies to fool Vicario.

Bergvall and Kolo Muani were finally sent on before Frank tweaked his formation, but Brennan Johnson blazed over in stoppage-time as boos greeted full-time, with Tottenham winning only three of their last 18 home league games.

PA

Tottenham were dealt a major injury blow just minutes before kicking off against Aston Villa with captain Cristian Romero ruled out.

Romero had been named in Thomas Frank’s starting line-up for Spurs’ return to action after the international break at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

But after sustaining an issue in the warm-up, the Argentina defender was scratched from the squad.

“Kevin Danso will replace Cristian Romero in the starting line-up,” Tottenham posted on social media 19 minutes before kick off. “Micky van de Ven will now captain the side this afternoon.”

Romero had taken over the club captaincy from the departed Son Heung Min at the start of the season having established himself as a consistent top performer since arriving in north London.

He had forged a productive partnership with Dutchman Micky van de Ven, with Danso forced to deputise having complete a permanent summer switch from Lens.

Romero had started Argentina’s friendly win over Venezuela last weekend, though was an unused substitute in the 6-0 success against Puerto Rico on Wednesday.

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Tottenham vs Aston Villa live: Unai Emery’s side face Premier League test after political storm

Villa will see league victory after being caught up in a political storm over their Europa League tie against Maccabi Tel Aviv

Tottenham will bid to extend their unbeaten run and keep up their pursuit at the top of the Premier League table as Aston Villa, fresh from being caught up in a political storm, visit London.

Spurs have not lost in their last seven games, and will hope to again close the gap to league leaders Arsenal to just two points after their north London rivals beat Fulham yesterday evening. Their early fixture list had, perhaps, fallen kindly, though, and building momentum over the next few weeks will be key if Thomas Frank’s side are to maintain a relatively strong start.

Villa will represent a useful test of their progress as Unai Emery seeks improvements from his squad across a tricky little period. Clashes with Manchester City and Liverpool are to come for a club which has spent much of this week dealing with off-field matters surrounding their Europa League tie with Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Follow all of the latest from Villa Park with our live blog below:

Thomas Frank wants Spurs fans to play part in turning stadium into a fortress

Thomas Frank wants to make Tottenham Hotspur Stadium a fortress but knows it will take “unbelievable cohesion” with the fans to achieve.

Spurs host Aston Villa eager to arrest their woeful home form in the Premier League, with only three top-flight wins in 2025.

The majority of a dismal run of three home wins in 17 league games came under Frank’s predecessor Ange Postecoglou, who struggled with an injury crisis at the start of the year before he prioritised Europa League success over domestic matters.

However, Frank’s short tenure has produced mixed results at the club’s 62,850-seater stadium, with boos audible after a defeat to Bournemouth in August and following a frustrating 1-1 draw with Wolves last month.

Thomas Frank wants Spurs fans to play part in turning stadium into a fortress

Spurs have won only three of their last 17 Premier League home matches.

Harry Latham-Coyle19 October 2025 11:30

Why are we afraid to say that football fans can be truly terrifying?

Violence at football is usually performative rather than actual, says Jim White, but there are fixtures where the swelling anger can boil into something dark.

Why are we afraid to say that football fans can be truly terrifying?

Violence at football is usually performative rather than actual, says Jim White, but there are fixtures where the swelling anger can boil into something dark

Jim White19 October 2025 11:20

Israeli football fan ban is a huge own goal

Editorial: The decision to bar fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv from England’s second city is a mess, but we must take care not to let this disgrace become a disaster:

Israeli football fan ban is a huge own goal

Editorial: The decision to bar fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv from England’s second city is a mess, but we must take care not to let this disgrace become a disaster

The Independent19 October 2025 11:15

Ministers doing ‘everything in our power’ to let Maccabi fans attend Villa match

The Government is exploring what extra support police in Birmingham would need to allow fans from both sides into Aston Villa’s match against Maccabi Tel Aviv in November, a spokesman said.

Pressure has been mounting to overturn the ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters attending the Europa League match.

The Government is working to make sure the match can go ahead with all fans allowed to attend, a spokesman said.

Ministers doing ‘everything in our power’ to let Maccabi fans attend Villa match

Pressure has been mounting to overturn the ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters from attending the club’s Europa League match against Aston Villa.

Harry Latham-Coyle19 October 2025 11:07

Aston Villa return to action after political storm

It’s been a strange and probably taxing week for plenty at Aston Villa, caught up in a political storm after announcing that they had been advised to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters from attending their Europa League tie next month. Here’s the full story.

Home Office told last week that Maccabi fans may face ban for Villa match, police say

Sir Keir Starmer will do ‘everything in his power’ to overturn the controversial ban, according to his spokesperson

Harry Latham-Coyle19 October 2025 11:00

Tottenham vs Aston Villa live

After rivals Arsenal went back to the top of the Premier League table last night, Tottenham will hope to close the gap to two points as they look to continue a seven-match unbeaten run in a meeting with Aston Villa - but the hosts’ dismal home form in 2025 will give the visitors hope of a win on the road after a week dominated by the political storm surrounding their Europa League tie with Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Kick off at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is at 2pm BST.

Harry Latham-Coyle19 October 2025 08:27