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Aston Villa have successfully blocked their Premier League game against Tottenham being brought forward to 16 May, which would have allowed Spurs more time to prepare for the Europa League final, because “they’re going to bottle it” against Bodo/Glimt on Thursday night.

Spurs were due to travel to Villa Park 18 May but submitted a request to the Premier League for the game to be played earlier to have longer to prepare should they reach the Europa League final on 21 May.

However, after consulting with club lawyers, Villa successfully blocked the fixture change citing a direct contravention Premier League Law 18, ‘The Spursy Rule’.

A source within the claret-and-blue hierarchy explained: ‘Tottenham’s decision to take for granted their safe passage to the Europa League final is a clear breach of Premier League Law 18, The Spursy Rule’.

‘The law clearly states, that even in instances of Tottenham leading a two-legged tie by 10 goals, such is their propensity to throw it away, it should never be assumed they’ll progress to the next round.

‘Therefore, Tottenham are forbidden from ever taking a game for granted and will be forced to fulfil all originally scheduled fixtures.

‘We look forward to inflicting Tottenham’s 21st league defeat of the season upon them (Crystal Palace being their 20th) on 18 May’.

The Spursy Law was introduced by the Premier League in 2016 after Tottenham somehow contrived to finish 3rd in a two-horse title race with eventual winners Leicester City.

The law has never been invoked until now because everyone assumed Tottenham, particularly a Tottenham team languishing 16th in the table, would never be as presumptuous as to believe they were home and dry in a two-legged European tie with only a two-goal advantage.

In related news, UEFA are reportedly making contingency plans for the Europa League final in the event both Tottenham and Manchester United both progress to the Bilbao showpiece.

It’s understood UEFA are concerned that Spurs and United might both conceivably lose the game.

‘It’s unprecedented but then again, we’ve never had two finalists this sh*t’, a UEFA source told Paddy Power News.

‘Everything is on the table, including scrapping the Europa League all together.

‘Does a competition deserve to exist when Spurs and United are the best teams in it?

‘We’d rather melt down the trophy than have an ‘El Bantero’ final’.

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James Maddison scored the only goal as Tottenham beat Premier League strugglers Manchester United 1-0 in the first ever El Bantero game.

The title has been given to one of sport’s newest rivalries between the two teams who are a never-ending source of amusement to supporters of rival clubs.

Since firmly establishing themselves as the Premier League’s top-two banter clubs, Spurs and United faced off in this relegation six-pointer at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Spurs, who had picked up just four points from their previous eight league games and been knocked out of both domestic cups, took on United, seeking an 8th defeat in 12 league games under Ruben Amorim.

United’s 1-0 El Bantero defeat leaves them 12 points shy of relegation to the Championship with 13 games to play.

Speaking after the game, United boss Amorim said:

‘I can’t understand. These tactics worked against Boavista and Gil Vicente’.

‘Perhaps Dan Ashworth was right, and I am not the Portuguese Brian Clough?

‘If we can sack the tea lady to free up some funds, maybe I can buy some players in the summer?

‘We’re paying Antony £200,000-per-week to play like prime Messi for Real Betis but getting Sandra off the wage bill could make all the difference’.

The Portuguese also gave an update on United’s long list of absentees who spent the weekend working with United’s club doctors in the recently renamed ‘Luke Shaw Treatment Centre’.

‘As you know, we lost Amad, Mainoo, Ugarte and Collyer last week’.

‘That’s the last time we introduce MMA to training’.

Meanwhile, Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou said he was proud of his players despite losing the bragging rights in the inaugural El Bantero contest.

‘We gave it our best shot but turns out United are even Spursier than Spurs, mate’, the Australian told Paddy Power News.

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