The former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher took to social media to apology over his 'clumsy' comments about Aston Villa and their fans
Jamie Carragher
Jamie Carragher apologised to Aston Villa and their fans(Image: Getty Images)
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Aston Villa have decided against pursuing legal action against Jamie Carragher after accepting his apology, following executive chairman Nassef Sawiris' claim that he had shown disrespect towards the club and its supporters with his recent remarks. Villa took to social media late on Friday night to announce their intention to commence legal proceedings against Carragher, in a statement bearing the signature of Sawiris.
The club objected to comments made by Carragher during a recent episode of the Stick to Football podcast, in which he outlined his views on where Villa sit within football's pecking order and implied that the club and its fanbase would be unable to stop Unai Emery from potentially departing for Manchester United.
"Surely he (Emery) would want that opportunity to manage a giant again," Carragher said. "There is a chain in football, whether you like it or not.
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Nassef Sawiris and Unai Emery
Aston Villa chairman Nassef Sawiris and Unai Emery(Image: Getty Images)
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"So Real Madrid will take Manchester United's best player, they'll take (Cristiano) Ronaldo. There's very few above United, same with Liverpool.
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"But there will be teams below Aston Villa, and they'll take their manager, or they'll take their players, so shut the **** up Villa fans. Aston Villa will never be Man United."
Things came to a head when Carragher took to X on Saturday afternoon, writing: "I'd like to apologise to Aston Villa, the owners and their fans. My language this week was clumsy and wrong.
"I can assure Villa fans it was tongue in cheek but I can understand it's not come across that way, so apologies."
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Villa had threatened legal action shortly after 10pm on Friday night, posting a statement on X signed by Sawiris: "Aston Villa will initiate legal action against Jamie Carragher for his unacceptable insults about the Club and its fans. Aston Villa will not allow anyone to stop our ascension in English and European football."
Our sister title BirminghamLive reports that Villa have withdrawn their threat of legal action against Carragher in light of his public apology.
It is understood, however, that Sawiris will not tolerate any further insults or disrespectful comments about the club.