Premier League rules ban Aston Villa star from playing against Newcastle United in Premier League opener
Aston Villa Set to Be Without Emiliano Martinez for Season Opener Against Newcastle — If He Stays
Aston Villa will be missing goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez for their Premier League opener against Newcastle United — provided he’s still at the club by then.
Martinez received a straight red card during Villa’s 2-0 loss to Manchester United on the final day of last season. That result secured Newcastle’s place in the Champions League, as Villa only needed a draw to clinch fifth place after Newcastle were beaten 1-0 at home by Everton. Things were on track until Amad Diallo broke the deadlock in the 76th minute, with Christian Eriksen sealing the win from the penalty spot.
Martinez Banned Following Red Card
Martinez was dismissed early in the second half after clattering into Rasmus Hojlund while attempting to clear a poor back pass from Matty Cash. Charging off his line, Martinez brought down the Danish forward, leaving the referee, Thomas Bramall, with little choice but to issue a red card.
Under Premier League rules, the 32-year-old must now serve a three-match suspension. He will miss the opening day clash against Newcastle at Villa Park on August 16, as well as the following fixtures against Brentford (away) and Crystal Palace (home).
Martinez Future in Doubt Amid Transfer Links
Despite the suspension, Martinez’s future at Villa Park remains uncertain. The club is expected to offload players before the end of June to comply with Premier League Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), and the Argentine international could be among those sold.
His emotional reaction after Villa’s final home game of the season — a win over Tottenham — suggested he may have already played his last game for the club. Interest in Martinez is reportedly high, with clubs in the Saudi Pro League as well as European sides like Manchester United and Atletico Madrid monitoring his situation.
Manager Unai Emery was tight-lipped when asked about Martinez’s future. “I don’t know,” he said. “He has a contract with us. We’re happy with him, but we’ll see how the summer goes.” When pressed on whether discussions about a transfer had taken place, Emery responded: “I don’t know. You can ask him.”
Villa vs Newcastle: A Fixture With High-Scoring History
Matches between Aston Villa and Newcastle United have often produced emphatic scorelines, especially at home grounds. Villa beat Newcastle 4-1 at Villa Park last season, while the Magpies claimed a 3-1 win in the reverse fixture. In earlier encounters at St James’ Park, Newcastle recorded dominant 4-0 and 5-1 victories, while Villa once ran out 3-0 winners at home.
Despite these fluctuating results, the teams have been closely matched in recent seasons — with Newcastle edging Villa to a top-four finish last campaign on goal difference alone.
