Premier League: Brentford, Aston Villa charged over late-game brawl

Brentford and Aston Villa have found themselves facing charges from the Football Association following clashes that marred the conclusion of their intense battle.

The turmoil unfolded as Aston Villa secured a 2-1 victory over Brentford, with Ollie Watkins’ 85th-minute goal sparking a contentious celebration in front of his former club’s fans.

The situation escalated further when Villa midfielder Boubacar Kamara received a red card in injury time for violent conduct, triggered by a scuffle involving multiple players.

Charges have been brought against both clubs, accusing them of failing to ensure their players and staff maintained proper and non-provocative behavior. The Football Association has given them until Friday to respond to the charges.

The game’s dynamics shifted significantly when Keane Lewis-Potter opened the scoring for Brentford just before half-time. However, tensions peaked when Brentford’s Ben Mee was sent off approximately 20 minutes from the final whistle after a robust challenge on Leon Bailey.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Alex Moreno managed to level the score in the 77th minute, setting the stage for Watkins to complete the comeback just eight minutes later.

Following the match, Villa manager Unai Emery expressed his intention to address the team’s disciplinary issues.

Emery acknowledged the need for better control, stating, “I will analyze it with our players because it was not normal. We were a bit excited and we needed control of ourselves.”

Emery emphasized his commitment to managing the team’s behavior and rectifying any lapses, saying, “I’m going to manage everything we did that was not good and our mistakes in our behavior.”

With Aston Villa currently sitting in third place, just one point behind Premier League leaders Arsenal, the fallout from this charged encounter could have significant implications for both clubs as they navigate the remainder of the season.