Rules and regs, as per usual, are made up by the clueless, as they go along. Common sense, however, according to my old History teacher, is not so common, as perfectly demonstrated by everyone concerned in this fiasco.

For our part, and our huge contribution to this mess, we should have put our foot down, followed the EPL directive, and told the Emis’ to STFU and get fit here.

The rest is up to the authorities of another jurisdiction, we must respect their decisions, ‘when in Rome?’.

This whole balls-up was started by Aston Villa Football Clubs’ weakness, not for the first time, in giving in to player's demands.